Education including COVID-19

The Joint Faculty’s teaching module which gives an expert overview and a detailed, practical guide to specific elements of COVID 19 patient management e.g. CPAP, Proning, Intubation, Suction, Surgery, CPR etc continues and was updated in January 2021.

Dr. Dónal Ryan, in collaboration with Dr Andy Neill, is examining the creation of a web-based compilation of educational talks to cover some of the fundamental topics in Critical Care. They are also working on how to to incorporate a web-based Refresher Course into the website.

The advanced simulation course in Critical Care will take place at 22, Merrion Square on Monday, April 26th. with full COVID precautions, as per current guidelines.

Intensive Care Specialist Register

The work on assessing applications referred to us by the Medical Council in ‘populating‘ the specialist register continues and at this stage approximately 40 consultants and senior fellows have been recommended for admission to the specialist register.

On the recommendation of the JFICMI, the medical council now accepts applications from doctors who hold the FCICM(ANZ) or FFICM(UK) qualifications for inclusion on the specialist register without having to undergo the assessment process. Further information is available on the IMC website.

Please note that the waiving of the full application fee (which applies for the first two years of the process) finishes on April 30th 2021. Thereafter, the full fee (>4,000Eur) applies.

Honorary Fellowship

Dr Ross Freebairn of Hawke’s bay, New Zealand is an international leader in ICM education and is a past president of the CICM (ANZ). He has visited Ireland on many occasions, spoken at meetings, conducted accreditation visitations and spearheaded and assisted with the rollout of the BASIC and Advanced BASIC training programs here. He is due for conferral as an honorary fellow by the JFICMI but the final arrangement is not yet made due to COVID restrictions.

What is the JFICMI?

Watch this recently recorded interview former Dean of the faculty, John Bates, Consultant in Intensive Care and Anaesthesia in Galway University Hospital.

Critical Care Capacity expansion and COVID 19

The critical care representative organisations (ICSI/JFICMI/CCP/CAI/AAGBI and IACCN) have been highlighting with Government the dearth of critical care bed capacity in Ireland – 6/100,000 population versus the European average of 11.5/100,000 plus the corresponding shortage of trained staff, mainly doctors and nurses. This and public opinion appears to be bearing fruit and Dr Michael Power of the HSE’s Critical Care Programme reported to the Board that 66 new critical care beds are planned immediately (funded) with an ultimate ambition to expand the complement by 177 beds culminating in a total of 428 beds, if fully funded. Other improvements planned are new critical care Advanced Nurse Practitioners (28), new educators and facilitators and new Consultants, Fellows, Nurses and paramedics for the Critical Care Transport service, the utilisation of which has recently quadrupled – see graph of January 2021 relative to January 2020

Dr Brian Marsh, while reporting on discussions with the NDTP (National Doctors Training and Planning, HSE) and on the Intensive Care Workforce planning report, noted that there is an increase in the trainee doctors entering ICM, both at JFICMI level and with the launch of the Specialist Anaesthesia Trainee (SAT) Year 7 programme (in effect replacing SIY year). For 2021, the JFICMI has made appointments to the 6 HSE Acute Hospital critical care NCHD posts, a funding initiative arising from the COVID-19 pressures. The JFICMI, working with the NDTP, has submitted a business plan to the HSE to sustain these posts with recurring funding and to develop the training numbers required to meet the consultant demand of the recently published workforce planning report.

Training with the JFICMI

Below is a short video with the director of training, Brian Marsh, providing an overview of the current structure, governance and funding of ICM training in Ireland

For more information visit the training page

The recent NDTP ICM workforce plan is also available

https://vimeo.com/519574214

An interview with Dr Dermot Phelan, founding member of JFICMI

Dr Dermot Phelan was one of the first Consultant Intensivists in Ireland and among others played a leading role in the development of Intensive Care as a specialty in Ireland.

Recently we interviewed him on his career in ICM, the development of ICM in Ireland and his thoughts on the future of ICM.

FUSIC HD Ultrasound Accreditation

FUSIC is the the current paradigm for basic echo and ultrasound accreditation developed by the UK Intensive Care Society. They have recently developed and published on a more advanced echo and haemodynamics accreditation pathway suitable to intensive care trainees and consultants. This pathway is now potentially available to Irish trainees. Dr Catherine Nix, Consultant Anaesthesiologist and Intensivist in UHL was involved in the development process and is happy to be contacted by any interested individuals. Below are some useful resources for those interested. More details about echocardiography training for the JFICMI is available here

FUSIC HD as published in the Journal of the Intensive Care Society
Slideset from Dr Nix outlining the essentials of the accreditation.

Mater Basic Critical Care Echo Course

Please find attached course information and application form to attend the Basic Critical Care Echocardiography Course at the Mater Misericordiae.

The course takes place at The Pillar Centre at the Mater Hospital on Wednesday and Thursday 18^th and 19^th October 2023.

To secure a place:

Application form and payment or proof of payment are to be sent to Ms Margaret Kellett at icmed@mater.ie no later than Friday October 13^th, 2023.

Please send all queries to the same.

Flyer and Registration Form

Dublin ECLS Meeting

The Mater Hospital and Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin are running their annual ECLS meeting. The date is November 21st 2023. This will be a hybrid meeting with both in person and virtual attendance options. There is no cost. Please see the attached flyer for details.

Irish Critical Care Clinical Trials Group Meeting

The Irish Critical Care Clinical Trials Group will be holding their inaugural scientific meeting on 1st February.

If you’re interested in Critical Care Research this is a great opportunity to present and listen to critical care research ideas with established critical care researchers to give feedback.

Please see the below flyer for more info

For more details you can email CrtiCareCTG@rcsi.com

National Critical Care Tracheostomy Day

A full day symposium on care of the patient with a tracheostomy. Providing education with a focus on multidisciplinary care, best practice and insight from experts in the field. Includes state of the art lectures, skills stations and simulation-based training.

See flyer below for more details and registration.

14th February 2024

Limerick Level 1 Echo Course

BSE and ICS endorsed practical course designed specifically to support individuals who plan to complete the BSE’s level 1 accreditation or ICS FUSIC Heart accreditation.

Friday March 1st 2024

See flyer below for more details

2024 JFICMI Supervisors of Training Seminar

The JFICMI Supervisors of Training Seminar 2024 will take place onFebruary 23^rd between 2pm and 5pm.

The seminar will take place on Zoom, and a link can be obtained by contacting jficmi@coa.ie

All consultants/trainees registered with the JFICMI are invited

Lectures and group discussions about JFICMI Training Curriculum, Workplace-based Assessments, Feedback in the workplace

This seminar will take place virtually

CPD and Attendance Certificates will be sent directly to the attendee post seminar.
There will be a feedback form circulated to all attendee’s post seminar.
Please be aware that presentations will be recorded and serve as information sessions to re-educate as needed over the course of WBA rollout. Group discussions will not be recorded.

Videos from 2024 Supervisor of training day

The JFICMI Supervisors of Training Seminar 2024 took place on February 23^rd 2024

All consultants/trainees registered with the JFICMI were invited

Lectures and group discussions about JFICMI Training Curriculum, Workplace-based Assessments, Feedback in the workplace

The lectures were recorded and are now available over on the education tab.

Congratulations to Dr Dermot Phelan

Congratulations to Dr. Dermot Phelan, former Dean of the Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine of Ireland, who has recently been awarded the University of Galway Alumnus of the Year award for Medicine for 2024 at a ceremony on May 10^th 2024. This award is in recognition for his outstanding role nationally in the foundation of Intensive Care Medicine as a medical speciality in Ireland and internationally for his contribution to education with the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine.

Level 1 Focused Echocardiography Course EBPOM 2024

Monday 23rd September, 2024 as part of the EBPOM Ireland 2024 Conference

BSE and ICS endorsed practical course designed specifically to support individuals who plan to complete the BSE’s level 1 accreditation or ICS FUSIC Heart accreditation.

A Flynn, J Roddy, C Nix, P Ryan & Colleagues

See flyer for more details:

Mater Critical Care Echo Course 14th and 15th November 2024

The Mater Hospital are running their twice yearly echo course on Thursday 14th and 15th November 2024.

Details below or at MaterCCM.org/echo

TUH Critical Care Rehab Conference

Please see the attached flyer for a Critical Care Rehabilitation Conference hosted by Tallaght University Hospital

Use QR code or contact shannonbrothers@hotmail.com for booking.

In memory of Professor Rinaldo Bellomo

It is with deep sadness that the Joint Faculty received the news about the passing of Professor Rinaldo Bellomo in Australia, an international leading light in intensive care medicine and nephrology. He was an exemplar of a critical care physician and researcher throughout his career. His legacy will live on in the many intensive care doctors who had the good fortune to work with and be inspired by him in the ICU. It will also live on in the huge body of impactful research that he conducted and published over the last 4 decades. Our thoughts are with his family, colleagues and close friends at this time.

Austin Hospital Website

EGLS Course Cork 11th & 12th September 2025

EGLS is a basic echo course that has been running in Ireland for several years

Further info and registration available on their website

Procedures Course Europe

The Procedures Course is a long running cadaveric course ran under the auspices of the Alfred Hospital in Europe.

Details below. Website for information and registration.

Dean’s Message June 2025

Dean’s Message

June 19^th 2025

As the current round of clinical rotations draws to a close, and with school holidays just around the corner, it is a busy time of the year for the Joint Faculty as well as for trainees and trainers. I would like to take this opportunity to share some important updates with you.

The clinical part of the JFICMI Fellowship exam took place on May 29^th. A huge thank-you to all the examiners and organisers who helped to ensure that the day ran smoothly. Congratulations to all the successful candidates on the day.

Earlier this week, a notice was circulated to department leads and supervisors of training in ICUs accredited for year-2 ICM training, inviting proposals for participation in the new JFICMI Fellowship programme. Please note that the closing date for proposal submissions is August 31^st 2025. Trainees interested in applying to join this programme will be recruited through the Joint Faculty’s annual recruitment process. Full details will follow shortly.

I would also like to draw your attention to some important changes that have recently been made to organ donation legislation in Ireland. With the introduction of the Human Tissue Act (2024), an opt-out system and register have come into effect on June 17^th 2025. It is important that all doctors working in intensive care practice are familiar with these recent changes. There is some guidance information on the HSE website (https://www2.hse.ie/services/organ-donation-opt-out-register/about/). There is an excellent webinar video which can be accessed here – https://youtu.be/aKOCYEH2OEk. The Intensive Care Society of Ireland also has useful learning resources about organ donation on their website (https://www.intensivecare.ie). The opt-out register can be checked by calling 1800 100016.

There are some important upcoming dates for your calendar;

June 20^th: Annual CAI/JFICMI/Faculty of Pain conferring ceremony in O’Reilly Hall in UCD
June 23^rd: JFICMI Trainee Study Day, St James’s Hospital, commencing at 8:45am
June 25^th: JFICMI Training exit/progression interviews. Trainees and trainers are asked to ensure that all necessary training information, including in-training assessments and completed logbooks, has been submitted in advance of the interviews
July 10^th: JFICMI Annual General Meeting, 1pm. This will be a videoconference event. A link to the meeting will be forwarded soon.

As we reach the end of the 2024/25 training year, I would like to extend my best wishes to doctors who are due to complete their ICM training in the coming weeks and are seeking a consultant post or are pursuing other training opportunities. I would also like to thank all consultants working in ICUs who continue to contribute to the essential delivery of high quality critical care services around the country. Finally, a sincere thank-you to all the trainers, supervisors and teachers who have helped uphold the high standards of ICM training in Ireland.

Level 1 Focused Echo Course SJH

St James Hospital are running a level 1 Echo course on 20th September 2025. Details in flyer below

Level 1 Echo Course Cork

As part of the ICSI Autumn Meeting in Cork there will be a level 1 echo course on Friday 7th November.

See details in flyer below

Mater Critical Care Echo Course

The Mater are running their long established 2 day echo course on Thursday 13^th and Friday 14^th November in the Pillar Centre in the Mater Hospital. This course is a mixture of lectures, hands on scanning and image interpretation. Max 20 candidates. This course is endorsed by the BSE, FUSIC and EDEC. It has been approved for 13 CPD points by CAI.

Draft programme attached along with a registration form which can be sent to icmed@mater.ie

FUSIC Heart Course Beaumont

Beuamont hospital are running a FUSIC Heart course on Friday 13th November 2025

Details in flyer below

Level 1 Echo Course: Limerick February 27th 2026

Please see flyer below for details

St James Hospital Advanced Echo Course

St James are running their yearly advanced echo course on 17th &18th April 2026

Flyer below for details.

Critical Care Reviews Meeting

Registration is open for the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2026.

There is an incredibly strong programme this year, stretching across the entire range of critical care, from the ED to ICU to post-ICU.

In addition to this, there is a packed social schedule including nights out with live music, early morning exercise / wellness sessions, as well as a free on-site professional creche (subject to demand) for those with little ones to care for.

You can register the website at https://criticalcarereviews.com/meetings/ccr26-registration#1