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Medical, dental and pharmacy trainers, educators and employers

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All staff can now access the NHS Wales Staff Wellbeing Covid-19 Portal which provides a range of health and wellbeing resources to support staff at this difficult time.

Healthcare professionals can find guidance on personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from Public Health Wales.

Below is guidance for medical, dental and pharmacy trainers, educators and employers in response to Covid-19. Please ensure you're looking at the most up-to-date documents. Documents no longer valid will be marked as ‘archived’ but are still available for information.

Date Details
General
02/09/2021 Returning from travel to Amber list countries: guidance for health and social care staff
12/03/2020 We have issued operational guidance to Health Boards and Trusts regarding the movement of medical, dental and pharmacy trainees to support services and patient care during the outbreak. A copy of this guidance has also been sent to trainees. We have issued operational guidance to Health Boards and Trusts regarding the movement of medical, dental and pharmacy trainees to support services and patient care during the outbreak. A copy of this guidance has also been sent to trainees.
03/03/2020 Regulators have already issued guidance for health and care professionals via the health and care professions council. This guidance is available here.
Medical  
30/09/2022

POSTION STATEMENT: Title: Statement on continued derogations in medical education and training

Agreed by Prof Push Mangat Medical Director Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW)

23/12/2021 Guidance for Training/Assessment Organisers Version 3.1 December 2021, Face to Face Training from HEIW, Swansea University Medical School and Cardiff University Medical School - Promoting the Safe Delivery of Clinical-Based Face to Face Training.
18/01/2021 With our colleagues from the four statutory education bodies (HEE, NES, HEIW and NIMDTA) we have issued a 2021 specialty recruitment update on the release of candidates and doctors in postgraduate training for recruitment and assessments. [Archived]
11/01/2021 More information regarding the extension of the ‘approved missed’ appraisal period and links to further information on appraisal in the context of the pandemic. [Archived]
08/01/2021 With our colleagues from the four statutory education bodies (HEE, NES, NIMDTA and HEIW) we have issued plans for 2021 specialty recruitment. [Archived]
21/12/2020 Revised guiding principles have been issued by HEIW on supporting the redeployment of trainees when managing local, regional or national Covid surges. [Archived]
08/12/2020

A letter from the General Medical Council to the UK Foundation Programme Board re the continuation of temporary derogation from the Foundation Programme curriculum for satisfactory progression at ARCP. [Archived]

The UK Foundation Programme's Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) Requirements Guidance - all trainees (valid until September 2021). [Archived]

24/11/2020 An update from the four statutory education bodies (HEE, NES, HEIW and NIMDTA) on enabling progression at ARCP in response to COVID-19. [Archived]
06/11/2020 In collaboration with Cardiff and Swansea Universities and Public Health, HEIW has produced guidance for organizers involved in delivery of face to face training events. The guidance provides a framework for trainers, ensuring face to face  training is delivered in a safe and consistent way, minimizing the risks of COVID transmission and supporting trainees and students to progress with their training. Here is the checklist for training organisers. [Archived]
24/09/2020 With our colleagues from the four statutory education bodies (HEE, NES, HEIW and NIMDTA) we have issued guidance on maintaining postgraduate medical education and training: Principles for educational organisations during pandemic surges. [Archived]
18/09/2020 Position statement from Welsh Government and HEIW confirming medical, nursing, midwifery, allied health profession and healthcare science students as having continued key worker status when undertaking practice placements. [Archived]
04/06/2020 Along with Cardiff University and Swansea University, Health Education and Improvement Wales have issued principles for restarting medical education. [Archived]
12/05/2020 We have issued guidance for trainers and trainees regarding temporary arrangements for conducting appeals to ARCP outcomes. [Archived]
29/04/2020 With our colleagues from the four statutory education bodies (HEE, NES, HEIW and NIMDTA) we have issued a letter to GP trainees and trainers on our efforts to address the current issues for trainees in their final year of GP specialty training. [Archived]
20/04/2020 Guidance from the four statutory education bodies (HEE, NES, HEIW and NIMDTA) on enabling progression at ARCP in response to Covid-19. [Archived]
08/04/2020 Guidance from the four statutory education bodies (HEE, NES, HEIW and NIMDTA) on the latest plans on the management of medical training rotations in May, June and July. [Archived]
06/04/2020 Medical Directors from the four statutory education bodies (HEE, NES, HEIW and NIMDTA) have issued a letter to medical trainees and trainers along with guidance on the management of ARCPs. [Archived]
03/04/2020 Please find the latest FAQs for medical trainers in secondary care. [Archived]
01/04/2020 A statement issued by the Joint Committee on Surgical Training on Covid-19 and Trainee Progression in 2020. [Archived]
01/04/2020 An update sent out by the Revalidation Support Unit at HEIW to all GPs in Wales via MARS regarding medical appraisals and revalidation. [Archived]
30/03/2020 With our colleagues from the four statutory education bodies (HEE, NES, HEIW and NIMDTA) we issued these plans for specialty recruitment. [Archived]
25/03/2020 Joint statement from the UK Health Departments, the General Medical Council, Health Education England, NHS Education for Scotland, Health Education and Improvement Wales, the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency, and the Medical Schools Council. It sets out the UK wide approach we have agreed to facilitating the early provisional registration as doctors of suitable final year medical students once they have graduated, and the early full registration of suitable Foundation Year 1 doctors. [Archived]
19/03/2020 Guidance issued with the three other UK statutory education bodies, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the General Medical Council and COPMED regarding exams for doctors in training during the Covid-19 outbreak. [Archived]
19/03/2020 Guidance issued with the three other UK statutory education bodies regarding the adaption of the Annual Review of Competence Progression assessment during the Covid-19 outbreak. [Archived]
17/03/2020 Due to the recent developments with regards to social distancing, a decision has been made by the four statutory education bodies (HEE, NES, HEIW and NIMDTA) to cancel all face to face specialty recruitment interviews with immediate effect. For all recruitment due to be held in Wales, the lead recruiter is sending a letter directly to applicants. [Archived]
16/03/2020 With our colleagues from the four statutory education bodies (HEE, NES, HEIW and NIMDTA) and the GMC we issued these plans for the management of medical training rotations during the delay phase of the current public health emergency. In addition we are developing an FAQ to support trainees during this time. [Archived]
Dental  
12/2021 Respiratory Pathway Risk Assessment December 2021
21/12/2021 COVID-19: infection prevention and control dental appendix - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) COVID-19: Infection Prevention and control dental appendix. 
11/11/2021 2021-11-11 - DCDO Letter - NHS Dentistry_ Recovery of Services Sent on behalf of Warren Tolley, Deputy Chief Dental Officer, Paul Brocklehurst, Deputy Chief Dental Officer. NHS Dentistry: Recovery of Services. 
28/09/2021 Guidance for the Dental Management of Patients in Wales during the C-19 Pandemic Recovery Sent on behalf of Warren Tolley - Deputy Chief Dental Officer. This guidance replaces the previous all-Wales Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
21/05/2021 We have published a joint statement with Health Education England (HEE) and the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA) regarding the 2020/21 Dental Foundation Training recruitment.
19/05/2020

Patients can access information and advice on common dental problems and conditions on the NHS 111 Wales website. These pages have been updated to reflect the current circumstances and provide additional information on how to manage common dental conditions at home.

Patients can also access advice on self-care including how to manage dental problems at home and when to contact dental practices for advice on the Primary Care One website.

13/05/2020 With our colleagues from the four statutory education bodies (HEE, NES, HEIW and NIMDTA) we have issued ARCP guidance for dental specialty trainees along with the Covid-19 dental ARCP appeal processand a supplementary document with outcome 10 supplementary codes.
12/05/2020 A letter from Richard Herbert, HEIW Associate Dean updating educational supervisors (ESs) on the latest regarding the dental foundation training programme in response to Covid-19.
27/04/2020

HEIW have been working with Welsh Government and NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership colleagues to provide online training for dental professionals who are being redeployed within local health boards to support the Covid-19 pandemic.

23/04/2020 A letter from HEIW confirms that Welsh Government has reviewed the educational supervisor grant for dental foundation training trainers and it will remain at 100%.
22/04/2020 The Chief Dental Officer has issued the primary care dental services Covid-19 toolkit which has been sent to dental teams alongside this release note.
21/04/2020 A dental foundation training programme update from HEIW in response to Covid-19.
20/04/2020 An email regarding national dental core training (DCT) recruitment 2020 outlining the modified selection process in response to Covid-19, has been sent to all DCT applicants.
16/04/2020 A letter from Richard Herbert, Associate Dean, HEIW regarding Dental Foundation Training (DFT) payments. Details of adjustments to DFT payments can be found in this letter.
14/04/2020 Guidance on ibuprofen and Covid-19 as reviewed by the Commission of Human Medicines.
02/04/2020 Correspondence from HEIW to foundation dentists and educational supervisors which was sent alongside the red letter alert and red phase guidance published by Welsh Government on 23 March 2020.
31/03/2020 HEIW has issued an email to all Dental Core Trainees, DCT ESs and DCT TPDs regarding Application for UK Dental Core Training Posts 2020-21.
27/03/2020 The following information for healthcare workers in Wales has been sent to all Dental Specialty Training trainees, training programme directors and educational supervisors.
24/03/2020 A letter was issued today to dental education supervisors about the arrangements for Dental Foundation Training in response to Covid-19.
23/03/2020 Joint statement issued on arrangements for dental and dental care professional students and recent graduates, while restrictions are in place to control the spread of Covid-19.
17/03/2020 With the four statutory education bodies HEE, NES, HEIW, NIMDTA, (SEBs) we have issued guidance to primary care employers, trainers and trainees regarding the management of dental education and training during the current public health emergency.
Pharmacy  
22/05/2020 HEIW’s statement regarding the Provisional Registration of 2019/20 Pre-registration Pharmacists.
15/04/2020

In response to Covid-19 and the increased pressure within community and hospital pharmacies, HEIW have introduced flexibility into the Modern Apprenticeship Pre-registration Pharmacy Technician training programme. This has been introduced following Welsh Government guidelines to support trainees to remain in their training programme during the pandemic.

The HEIW pharmacy team are communicating remotely with trainees on an individual basis to ensure they are supported effectively, meeting their specific needs, to enable them to continue and progress on the training programme.

06/04/2020 The latest FAQs issued by the General Pharmaceutical Council in response to Covid-19.
31/03/2020 Joint statement from Health Education England, NHS Education for Scotland and Health Education and Improvement Wales on pre-registration pharmacist training and examinations during Covid-19.
25/03/2020 Guidance for Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacists and Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians has been issued today to Chief Pharmacists, Community pharmacy Wales, pre-reg pharmacist trainees, Pre-reg pharmacy technician trainees, tutors and employers in Wales.
20/03/2020

General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) announce temporary registration for returning pharmacists and pharmacy technicians during this public health emergency. Guidance for those in Wales can be found at returning Pharmacists guidance.

For regular Covid19 updates from the General Pharmaceutical Council please visit Coronavirus latest updates.