Manchester 2 Days, 2nd - 3rd Jun 2012

Stepping Hill Accommodation

We don't arrange or organize accommodation for candidates attending our courses, as everyone has different needs.  However, we have put together a list of local accommodation, and links to accommodation resources, and you can find these below.  We don't endorse or recommend any of the establishments below, and take no responsibility for any bookings made. 

Stepping Hill Hospital is on the A6, and can be easily reached by train (closest station Woodsmoor), or by bus (192 from Stockport or Manchester).  There are a number of B&Bs locally, along with reasonably priced hotels.  If you do require accommodation for this course, and need some 'local' advice, email enquiries@pastest.co.uk as we know the area very well.  Please try to avoid the local Britannia Hotel!

Doctor in the House provide well-priced accommodation for doctors attending courses at UK hospitals

www.doctorhouse.co.uk

Late Rooms offer good value hotel accommodation across the UK, and can be searched by area so you won't find yourself too far from the course venue.

www.laterooms.com

LastMinute also offer good deals on hotel stays.  The 'secret' hotels can be very good value for money, so are worth a look if you don't mind not knowing where you're going to be staying until you pay.  Sometimes if you Google the description you can find out where they are before you book though.

www.lastminute.co.uk

Manchester PACES 2-Day Sample Timetable

Day 1

08.30 Refreshments & Registration
09.00 Welcome and Introduction to Course
09.30 Systems Session - Neurology
11.00 Refreshments
11.15 Systems Session Mixed – Respiratory + Abdo
12.45 Lunch
13.45 Systems Session - Cardiology
15.15 Refreshments
15.30 Systems Session – Station 5
17.00 Finish

Day 2

08.30 Refreshments
09.00 Mock Exam Briefing
09.30 Systems Session – Mock Exam Stations 1, 3 & 5
11.00 Refreshments
11.15 Systems Session – Mock Exam Communication & Ethics
12.45 Lunch
13.45 Systems Session – Mock Exam History Taking
15.15 Refreshments
15.30 Systems Session - Ophthalmology
17.00 Finish  

Course FAQs

What is the dress code for the course?

Clinicals: You should dress as you would for the exam, whilst observing any Royal College dress guidelines.
Written: Dress for comfort - you'll be sat down most of the day, so wear something that you're comfortable in and isn't constricting.

How do I access my free online?

If you bought a course that comes with free PasTest Online revision (4-Day PACES, MRCS OSCE, 5-Day MRCP 1 or 6-Day MRCPCH 1) you will need to log in at www.pastest.co.uk/mypastest to access the questions.  If you're new to MyPasTest you will also need to authenticate your email address - just follow the instructions in your confirmation email.

When will my PasTest Online access expire?

Access ends the day after the exam, automatically.  You don't have to do anything to cancel your subscription.  You'll still have access to your MyPasTest account though. PacesCases subscriptions expire at the end of the exam diet.

Can I provisionally book a place?

Yes, as long as the course is more than 4 weeks away you can book a place provisionally.  You can do this at www.pastest.co.uk or by phone

How do I cancel?

We hope you won't need to do, but we have a very flexible cancellation policy, and details can be found in the help section of our website.

What do I need to bring with me?

Clinicals: You should bring with you all the equipment you would expect to take to the exam.  We will provide you with alcohol hand gel and neurotips
Written: Just bring yourself!  You'll be given everything you need at the beginning of the course.  However, you might want to bring a bag or rucksack to take your file home with you each night.  The binders can be really big so are much more manageable if you have something to carry them in.

I already have a PasTest Online subscription for the same exam sitting - can I get my money back if I book a course place where online revision is included?

Yes, absolutely.  Just call us on 01565 752000 and we'll make sure you're given a discounted course place.  If you need one receipt to claim back any payments from your employer, just let us know.

What do I get when I book a course?

You will be emailed a letter of confirmation, receipt, venue information, and details of how to access pre-course material (if applicable to your course). If the venue was not confirmed at the time of booking, a map and venue details will be sent to you as soon as it is confirmed. A course timetable will be emailed to you approximately three weeks before the course commences.

Will I receive pre-course?

All course attendees (apart from those attending clinical courses) can access pre-course material through www.pastest.co.uk/mypastest 

The answers will be provided in the course material which you will receive at registration on the first day, and they will be made available in the course add-ons section of MyPasTest.  All course material can be downloaded/accessed through MyPasTest.

Do I get a receipt?

Yes, you will get this by email when you book. Please keep this safe as you may need it for reimbursement or tax purposes.

When do I receive my timetable?

The course timetable is emailed three weeks before the course start date.

Do I receive any supporting course material?

Your course material will be handed out at registration on the first day of the course. You may be given extra handouts throughout the course.

I need a certificate of attendance, how do I obtain one?

You will receive a certificate of attendance on the last day of the course.

Where is the venue for the course?

Venue details emailed to you with your receipt.  Alternatively if you click on the date of the relevant course on the web site, you can see links to the map and directions to the venue, which you can print out if necessary.

Do you arrange accommodation?

You can find a list of hotels in the accommodation section on the course page. You will have to book and pay for it yourself.

What do I do if my health authority will pay for me?

Click here to download health authority approval form. As soon as your health authority completes and stamps the form, fax it back us. We will book and confirm your place on a course once we receive the completed and stamped health authority form.

My question wasn't answered here...

Just email us at enquiries@pastest.co.uk and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

Manchester PACES Lecturers

Course Director
Dr Julian Wright
Julian Wright is the Manchester PACES Course Director. Julian is a consultant nephrologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary. Julian has been lecturing for PasTest since 2000; he is the Director of Medical Education at Central Manchester Foundation Trust and is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators.

Dr Matthew Jones
Dr Matthew Jones is a specialist registrar in Neurology, on the North West Deanery rotation. He currently works at the Greater Manchester Neurosciences Centre. He is an honorary research fellow at the Universty of Manchester with an interest in focal onset neurodegenerative dementias

Dr Pauline Ho
Dr Pauline Ho is a Consultant Rheumatologist at the Manchester Royal Infirmary. She has completed her PhD in genetics of psoriatic arthritis.

Dr Anna Maino
Anna is a Consultant Ophthalmologist with a special interest in Strabismus (Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport). She trained at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London. She has a long standing interest in teaching and training, actively contributing to undergraduate and postgraduate courses. She has contributed to PACES courses since 2005. She collects bento boxes.

Dr James Galloway
Dr Galloway is a Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Manchester. He is studying the use of biologic therapies in rheumatic diseases. In particular he is involved in evaluating the potential for these drugs (such as TNF inhibitors) to predispose individuals to infections. This work is contributing towards study for a PhD, which he hopes to complete in 2011. Prior to working for the University of Manchester he held an SpR number in Rheumatology in the North Western Deanery.

Dr Asad Khan
Dr Khan has been a regular lecturer on the course since 2005, and has contributed a large number of questions to the history and communications stations.  He works as a full-time consultant in respiratory and acute medicine at Fairfield General Hospital, Bury. His work interests include sleep-disordered breathing and safe oxygen therapy. Outside work, he has an interest in violations of the universal right to access healthcare. In connection with this subject, he has travelled extensively in Lebanon and Palestine and has contributed articles to the Lancet and the BMJ.  He is married and lives in the Rossendale valley on the outskirts of Bury.

Dr Moulinath Banerjee
Dr Moulinath Banerjee is a Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust & Cumbria Diabetes + Hon. Clinical Research Fellow in Cardiovascular Medicine at Manchester University. His main areas of interest are in Cardiovascular structure and function in pre-diabetes and pregnancy complicated with diabetes. He has been associated with PasTest since 2004. Outside of work his main interests are photography, cricket and reading.

Dr Vinod Venugopal
Dr Venugopal qualified from Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, India in 1997. He went completed a postgraduate degree in General Medicine (MD) in the same institution before coming to the UK in 2003. He started working in the NHS in 2004 as an SHO and did 12 months of his SHO rotation in South Wales before completing his MRCP in April 2005. He worked as Cardiology Registrar at the Royal Free in London for a year before completing his MD (Res) from UCL in 2008. He is currently in the West Midlands Cardiology rotation aiming to pursue interventional cardiology as a sub-specialty interest. His other interests include public-speaking and music.

Dr Raj Rajagopal
Raj Rajagopal is a Speciality Registrar in Cardiology in the North Western deanery. His specific interests include cardiac intervention, arrhythmias and medical education.  He has been actively involved in under-graduate and post-graduate teaching in London and Manchester for many years. He currently teaches on the PasTest Manchester PACES courses.

Dr Eddie McKeown
Dr McKeown is currently an SpR in Respiratory medicine in the Oxford Deanery looking to do a joint CCT in Critical Care. He is based between the Churchill Hospital in Oxford and the Horton General Hospital in Bambury. He was initially placed in the North West Deanery as a Respiratory Registrar at Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Blackburn Hospital. He graduated from the University of Sheffield and teaches on the PasTest Manchester PACES courses.

Dr Tina Chrysochou
Tina Chrysochou is a specialist registrar in renal medicine. She is currently based at Salford Royal Hospital.

Dr Heiko Schneider
Dr Schneider graduated from the University of Leipzig, Germany & moved to the UK thereafter. He is a registrar in Cardiology and is due to start a PhD on Arrhythmia in Adult Congenital Heart Disease. He annually examines at the undergraduate OSCEs and has been a PasTest lecturer for two years now. He holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Work Based Medical Education and is an Associate of the Higher Education Academy.

Dr Rupa Ahluwalia
Dr Rupa Ahluwalia is an SpR in Diabetes & Endocrinology in the Mersey Deanery and teaches on the PasTest Manchester PACES courses.

Dr Heather Green
Dr Heather Green trained as an undergraduate at St Andrews and then at Manchester.  She is currently working as a respiratory registrar in the North West Deanery and teaches on the PasTest Manchester PACES course.

Dr Kamal Khan
Dr Kamal Khan is a cardiology registrar in the North West deanery currently based at Wythenshawe Hospital.  Dr Khan teaches on the Manchester PACES courses.