OOPE

Out Of Programme Experience (OOPE) offers trainees the opportunity to develop interests in teaching, research, leadership or a subspeciality. Local examples are on the Opportunities tab Other options exist across the county, in areas such as transplant, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension. We will forward these to you if and when we hear about them. Asking consultants or other trainees can also provide guidance.

OOP needs to be approved by your Educational Supervisor, Training Programme Director and Royal College of Physicians Training Board. There are forms that need to be completed and then an interview process. See the “How to apply” section on this link for details (although it says draft and is from 2015 it seems to apply) The interview process is unique to respiratory and is to help you plan how get the most of the year and to decide who is allocated.

The earlier you can start planning the better, with the first educational supervisor meeting of the year being a good point to discuss. As some posts are advertised later in the year, it has been possible to arrange as late as February in select cases (allocation and number of trainees in program has to be kept above a minimum) Email the Training Programme Director if in doubt.