The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is celebrating a highly-successful ‘relaunch’ of the Practical Examination of Clinical Assessment Skills (PACES) exams which are hosted on behalf of the Royal College of Physicians (UK). 

Taking place over the weekend this month, they mark a significant milestone as the first PACES exams held after the challenges posed by the covid-19 pandemic.

They are designed to test the clinical knowledge and skills of trainee doctors who hope to enter higher specialist training (ST3). 

The exam sets rigorous standards to ensure competence across a range of skills to ensure trainee doctors are ready to provide a high standard of care to patients.

Working in collaboration with colleagues at The Hub clinic, the ideal environment of its outpatient space, contributed to the smooth execution of this essential medical examination. 

The new PACES 2023 format introduces innovative elements, reflecting the evolving landscape of clinical assessment skills.

The weekend-long examination would not have been possible without the support from the postgraduate administrative team. Johanna Gilbert, Trudy Eddy, Katherine Martin, Leah Maclaren, Matt Metherell, and exam registrar Alice King all played instrumental roles in ensuring the seamless organisation of the exams.

“The dedication and hard work of our postgrad administrative team, in collaboration with the HUB clinic, have been integral in bringing the PACES exams back in the new 2023 format after the challenges posed by the pandemic,”  said Dr Katja Adie, stroke and eldercare consultant, as well as host examiner for PACES at The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. 

“I’m so grateful for their fantastic support and of course for the hard work of our examiners and candidates on the day.”