RIACT Course
RIACT Course
Embedded Files
The Readiness for the Initial Assessment of Competency Training (RIACT) Course has been running in the Oxford deanery since 2012. It runs twice a year, from August to October and from February to April.
It is aimed at anaesthetic trainees (completing their IAC training) and non-anaesthetic trainees (on anaesthetic placements). These two groups are enrolled on two versions of the same course which run in parallel.
Course Structure
Course Structure
Standard Course
ACCS IM/EM trainees
DRE-EM trainees
ED locally employed doctors
PICU trainees
Day 1 - Introduction
Day 2 - RSI & CICO
Day 3 - Emergencies
Day 4 - Assessment day
Long Course
Core anaesthetic trainees
ACCS anaesthetic trainees
ICM trainees
Day 1 - Introduction
Day 2 - RSI
Day 3 - CICO
Day 4 - Emergencies
Day 5 - Emergencies
Day 6 - Assessment day
Course Dates
Course Dates
August 2026 Standard Course
10th August - OUH
7th September - SMH
5th October - SMH
19th October - OUH
August 2026 Long Course
10th August - OUH
24th August - OUH
14th September - OUH
28th September - OUH
12th October - OUH
19th October - OUH
February 2027 Standard Course
8th February - SMH
22nd February - OUH
5th April - OUH
19th April - SMH
February 2027 Long Course
8th February - SMH
15th February - SMH
8th March - SMH
22nd March - SMH
12th April - SMH
19th April - SMH
Course Faculty
Course Faculty
Consultant Lead
Dr Sara McDouall (Head of School)
Course Coordinators
Dr Georgi Lowe
Dr Audrey Davies
Dr Rob Jericho
Consultant Faculty
Dr Kate Hames-Brown (RBH)
Dr Helen Brambley (MKUH)
Dr Maria Rivero-Bosch (RBH)
Dr Andy Skog (RBH)
Trainee Faculty
Assorted faculty from CT2 to ST7 anaesthetic trainees
Course Funding
Course Funding
Deanery-funded candidates
Candidates in training posts funded by the Thames Valley deanery are automatically funded to attend RIACT. This includes:
Core anaesthetic trainees
All ACCS trainees (anaesthetic / ED / IM)
DRE-EM trainees
ICM / PICU trainees
Self-funded candidates
Candidates not in training posts (included locally employed doctors), or in training posts funded by other deaneries, must self-fund to attend RIACT, and may then claim funding as appropriate.
College Tutor Info
College Tutor Info
The course coordinators kindly request that the college tutors take on the following responsibilities:
Inform RIACT coordinators of prospective candidates:
Names, contact details, funding status
Ideally six weeks prior (when rotas are written) to course starting
No later than four weeks prior to course starting
Ensure that RIACT course dates are built into rotas:
Standard course or long course as appropriate
No clashing on-call responsibilities
Only enrol candidates who are:
Working regular shifts in theatres
In post from the start of the course
Attend the RIACT assessment day:
Participate as member of expert panel
Provide feedback to candidates working at their hospital
Delegate to an appropriate consultant if unable to attend
Provide an alternative assessment opportunity if candidates unable to attend on assessment day
Discuss non-attendance with candidates and decide whether there is cause for concern
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