Wellington Neurology Course 2024

The Wellington Neurology Course has replaced the Tauranga Neurology Course run by Andrew Chancellor for more than two decades. This will be the fifth time we have run it in Wellington.

This is only for New Zealand FRACP candidates sitting the clinical examination in 2024. (see Key points below)

The programme offers registrars the opportunity to hone their examination technique and improve their recognition of disorders commonly presented at the FRACP clinical examinations. You will have lectures and examination teaching on Friday. On Saturday you will see twenty different neurology cases, taking turns to be examined in FRACP short case format. (see course overview below)

The course is not meant to be scary or intimidating, try to see it as a fun learning opportunity :)

There is a dinner on Friday night. Attendance is strongly encouraged. This is a good excuse to celebrate with your colleagues for getting this far. Importantly, the tutors will divulge some 'neurological pearls of wisdom' at the dinner, which you'd miss if not present.

Please read the 'Key points' and the information below carefully, then consider registering.

Key points:

Only New Zealand FRACP candidates, who have passed their written examination AND are sitting the clinical examination in 2024 are eligible to register. If you do not meet this criteria or have attended the course before please do not apply.

PLEASE DON'T APPLY UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR WRITTEN EXAMINATION RESULT.

Registrations will close 1 week after the announcement of the written examination results - given there isn't long between the announcement of the written results and the examination.

Numbers are usually limited because the course is over-subscribed. If required, selection will be done by a random number generator on the final day of registration, not first-come-first-served.

Pay by direct debit within 72-hours of receiving an offer to confirm your spot – see payment details below.

Course overview:

Friday - 11:30am Horne lecture theatre, level 1`2 WSB building (blue lifts) at Wellington Hospital

lectures relevant to the short case examination.

small group sessions with a neurologist reviewing examination technique.

Friday night - DINNER at 630pm - venue details to follow

Saturday - 9:00am, Clinical Measurement Unit (CMU), Wellington Hospital. Finish around 4-430pm.

Short cases - you will be split into small groups and rotate between rooms, taking turns to be the examiner. Please resist the urge to interrupt when it's someone else's turn.

The format will be the same as the FRACP short case, with a brief stem provided at the start, time for examination and then questioning afterwards.

The patients will be chosen to represent a range of neurological conditions, but specifically those you are more likely to encounter in the practical exam.

There will be two sessions with lunch in the middle.

There will be time for a 'debrief' at the end.

You will be emailed or able to download a booklet ‘A method for examination of the nervous systems’, written by Dr Andrew Chancellor (who ran the Tauranga course for over 20 years), with references to neurological short cases popular in the FRACP exam.

The course is not affiliated to a NZ University or NZQA qualifications. Participation in the registration process and the course itself is taken as an agreement/contract to comply with the arrangements as outlined herein.

All correspondence, by e-mail: david.bourke@ccdhb.org.nz

Payment details:

The cost of the course is $500 NZD. Don't pay until you have been offered a place. Also, please don't apply for a place until you can confirm you will be able to attend - i.e. check you are not on call and can get leave for the Friday.

In order to confirm your place please pay by direct credit to the bank account below, within 72 hours of course place offer. Put your full name as a reference .

Once you have lodged payment the allocated place is yours. No need to send another e-mail. If no course fee is deposited within 72 hours after offer of a place, the offer becomes null and void and the place will be allocated to another registrar.

A tax invoice and receipt will be emailed before the start of the course once everyone is confirmed - so will be a delay after your payment. I'll do this as a group email to save admin time. You can use this to claim for the course.

If the number of applications exceeds capacity, a fair ballot will apply, but the closing date for registration will not be less than 7 days after written exam results are announced. If your application is too late or you are unlucky and miss out in the ballot, I will reply to let you know and keep you on a waiting list in case others pull out.

Places are non-transferable. If you confirm a place and can no longer attend for an unexpected reason, please let me know as soon as possible so the place can be re-allocated. You will receive a full refund.

Account details:

Account Name Neurology Course

Bank number 38

Branch number 9017

Account number 0705286

Suffix 04

Other Notes:

Course fee includes: Tuition from consultant neurologists, lunch on Friday and Saturday, refreshments during breaks and a restaurant dinner (and beverages) on Friday evening – when you register please indicate intention to attend (see above). Vegetarian food can be provided for the meals – please let us know if you prefer this option at the time of ballot application.

Please remember your course ID number, allocated at the ballot for both small group teaching on Friday and the Saturday short case round robin groups. The letter refers to one of the 10 groups (A-J) who remain together when moving between teaching stations. The number 1-50 is the course place number.

You may wish to bring a favourite reflex hammer, opthalmoscope, 128Hz tuning fork and neurotips – no need to bring other kit. It would be helpful if one person in each group can be responsible for one kit set around the stations. As the rooms are tight for space do not lug around cases/backpacks etc.

Please wear presentable/smart clothing for the Saturday OPD sessions with patients. Men: no jeans, shorts or sandals. Necktie or jacket not compulsory (rooms can be warm). I will convey your thanks to the patients who participate. NO RECORDING DEVICES ARE PERMITTED IN THE OPD ROOMS. IF THIS IS BREACHED YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE.

Please make your own accommodation arrangements.

We look forward to meeting you.

David Bourke

david.bourke@ccdhb.org.nz