Tuesday 24 March 2009 saw the start of the Bradford Postgraduate Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine with Rheumatology for GPwSI. There were seven students in the first cohort from all round the country for this 18-month long course.
The course has been developed by an experienced team of musculoskeletal practitioners who also deliver the teaching. Support for the course has come from ARC who gave a number of part bursaries, and it is approved by the Royal College of GPs, The British Society of Rheumatology and the Primary Care Rheumatology Society. Students access the teaching in Bradford and then work with a Consultant mentor in their local area.
Initial feedback has been good with students appreciating the practical, hands-on nature of the lectures, the expertise of the lecturers and the small class size.
The Diploma is made up of three clinical and one service improvement modules and follows a tried and tested pattern which NHS Bradford and Airedale has been running for over five years in other disciplines. The clinical modules cover disorders of the lower limb, upper limb and cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine as well as inflammatory arthropathies, metabolic bone disease and chronic wide-spread pain.
On completion of the course students will receive a Diploma awarded by the University of Bradford and will be able to set up, manage and deliver an evidence based GPwSI clinic in Musculoskeletal Medicine and Rheumatology.
For further information of the next entry point, please email psi@bradford.nhs.uk
