Terms of Reference


Education and Research Committee
Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore

Background and Rationale
The School of Medicine University of Limerick (SoM UL) and the Postgraduate Medical Training Bodies (PGTBs) are responsible for the education and professional training of both undergraduate medical students and postgraduate doctors, but rely on affiliated hospitals such as MRHT to provide the venue and significant resources to meet the learning needs of medical students and non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) on specialty training programs. In addition, non-training
doctors constitute a significant proportion of NCHDs in the medical workforce whose mandatory continued professional development and educational needs also must be considered. Undergraduate students from UL spend significant time in MRHT. In their 3rd  and 4th  years, UL medical students spend 18 weeks in MRHT rotating between Medicine (including Emergency Medicine) and Surgery.  There are a significant number of NCHDs on postgraduate specialty training programs in Tullamore.  MRHT is responsible for high quality patient care including that provided by medical students and NCHDS, under the supervision of Consultants. In order to facilitate the planning and resource allocation necessary to sustain high quality patient care and excellence of medical education at MRHT, an academic committee comprising clinicians, information scientists and human resources staff is appropriate and necessary. This committee will also be a point of contact and engagement for the Clinical Academic Officer (CAO) of our HSE Dublin and Midlands Health Region (HR)
Research is an integral part of modern healthcare and it is important for medical students and NCHDs to have an underlying knowledge of how research is conducted and have a means to pursue same if interested. High quality research is a collaborative project working with other healthcare staff both on site and at other sites within our HR. On a larger scale, multi-centre trials nationally or internationally offer opportunities to collaborate which MRHT should strive to be involved with. The ERC will provide a governance structure ensuring research conducted within MRHT has appropriate ethical approval; data protection measures; is of appropriate quality; and that the rights, dignity, safety and wellbeing of all those involved are protected. This is within the broader HR framework under the direction of the CAO. The ERC will also provide support for those seeking funding for research through potential sources, including HRB; Science Foundation Ireland; HSE Spark funding and other bodies that exist to support research and quality improvement projects.
Accountability
The Committee is advisory to the Medical Board and hospital management.
Responsibility
The Committee serves to enhance the partnership between MRHT and others involved in Medical Education, Training and Research. This includes SoM UL, PGTBs, CAO and National Doctors Training and Planning (NDTP).

  1. Defining joint responsibilities for the education and training of undergraduate medical students and postgraduate medical trainees (NCHDs);
  2. Defining lines of responsibility and accountability for delivery of education and training programs;
  3. Identify the resources currently provided by UL and postgraduate training bodies within the hospital.
  4. Collectively planning for and rationalizing appropriate resources to sustain the education and training responsibilities of the hospital.
  5. Working with MELG (Medical Education Liaison Group) committee on issues pertinent to medical student education
  6. Support the development of research projects both within the hospital and in collaboration with other partners.

Membership

  1. Consultant Lead for Education and Training/Hospital Clinical Director for E&T
  2. Consultant Research Lead
  3. Consultant Lead for Grand Rounds
  4. Academic Lead SoM UL
  5. NCHD Leads
  6. Information Scientist/Representative of Library & Education Centre.
  7. Representative of Human Resources Department.
  8. Representative of Medical Specialties (if not already represented)
  9. Representative of Surgical Specialties (if not already represented)
  10. Representative of Diagnostic Specialties (if not already represented)
  11. Clinical Director(s)
  12. Medical Board Representative

Chair
Designated by Chair of the Medical Board of the hospital
Observers, Invitees & Alternates
Observers should be allowed at the discretion of the Chair. Members may designate alternates as required. However, continuity of attendance is strongly encouraged.
Administration
Administrative and office support will be provided by hospital Medical Manpower office. Agendas and meeting notes will be circulated electronically. Notice of all meetings of the Committee will be provided to the members at least 5 working days in advance of the date of the meeting. The Chair may call a meeting on less notice with the consent of the majority of the members. Any members (including corresponding members) of the committee may submit agenda items. A quorum for each meeting will be six but must include at least one management representative (CD or HR) and one lead NCHD. The Committee will work by consensus, developing plans and recommendations for decision by the Medical Board and the Hospital Manager. It is understood that some matters may need to be referred to the Hospital Manager and the Medical Board of the hospital.

The Committee will ordinarily meet quarterly on the 1st  Thursday of the month or at the call of the Chair.


Approval
Chair: Medical Board
Hospital Manager

ToR Agreed July 2024