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Thursday March 28, 2024

Third preparation course for Paces exam concludes at HFH

By Muhammad Qasim
April 21, 2017

Rawalpindi

A four-day preparation course for MRCP (UK) Paces exam organised by Rawalpindi Medical College at New Teaching Block of RMC at Holy Family Hospital concluded here on Thursday.

The preparation course for MRCP UK (Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom) Paces (Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills) exam was conducted for the third time in Pakistan by UK tutors trained by the Royal College of Physicians, UK.

A total of 20 candidates were registered with the RMC for the four-day preparation course for MRCP Paces exam including 15 candidates from various cities of Pakistan, two from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and one each from Dubai, Oman and Afghanistan.

This preparation course has been conducted in Pakistan for the third time in last one year with an aim to bring the MRCP UK examination centre in Pakistan. Earlier the students wishing to appear for Paces course have to travel to UK or UAE to prepare for Paces preparation course, said Principal RMC and Chief Allied Hospitals Professor Dr. Muhammad Umar while talking to ‘The News’ on Thursday.

Dr. Umar who took the initiative of arranging preparation courses here at RMC for MRCP (UK) Paces Course said his team has been carrying out efforts for a national cause seeking establishment of MRCP UK examination centre here in the country that will bring Pakistan at par with India and UAE which have Paces examination centres for many years.

Paces exam is designed to test the clinical knowledge and skills of trainee doctors who hope to enter higher specialist training in UK. It is a half-day examination that takes place in a clinical setting in a hospital or in clinical skills centre sets rigorous standards to ensure that trainees are competent across a range of skills and ready to provide a high standard of care to patients.

UK tutors including Dr. Isma Kazmi, Dr. Ahmad Waleed along with Dr. Asif and Dr. Rashid conducted the preparation course at the HFH. The tutors work in UK and are tutors of Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom and are involved in conducting the exam of MRCP in UK.

The participants of the course who have passed their MRCP Part 1 & 2 examination and now intend to appear in MRCP Paces Exam in UK in coming months were given introduction about the examination format and provided hand-on training for detailed preparation for all the five stations of Paces Examination followed by a mock examination with feedback to every candidate.

During the four-day course, the participants were given insight into the real UK PACES Exam, PACES format, marking scheme, concept of “Double Jeopardy”, patient calibration, A to E clinical skills, PACES Carousel etc. The participants were trained on how to approach a patient in clinical stations including Respiratory/Abdominal station, Cardiology/Neurology Station and on history taking, clinical communications and ethical issues with practice sessions.

Coordinator for the course at HFH Dr. Zahid Minhas informed ‘The News’ that after the course, personal feedback to all candidates was given by the UK tutors and after a full mock examination, an extra session on job application and interview in UK was organized. The participants of the course were also educated on how to get clinical attachment in UK, he said.