Medicine subspecialties

Generic Job Families

Specialist Areas

Functional Requirements

Details/Health and Safety Indicators

Cardiology

 

 

 

Inpatient/

Outpatient work

 

 

See acute medicine

 

The following specialist activities require:

Good manual dexterity, bimanual fine skills, and good hand eye coordination

May present difficulty for doctors with advanced/arthritic bone conditions of the hands which limits dexterity

 

Echocardiography

Pericardiocentesis

Repetitive upper limb movements with wrists in awkward and hyperextend positions

 

 

Temporary and permanent pacing

Ability to wear lead apron for extended periods

May present problems for doctors with musculoskeletal conditions especially neck and lower back

 

DC Cardioversion

 

 

Dermatology

 

 

 

Inpatient/

Outpatient work

 

 

See acute medicine

 

 

Skin biopsy and minor skin surgery

Most minor surgery does not include exposure prone procedures

See exposure prone procedures

Diabetes and endocrinology

 

 

 

Inpatient/

Outpatient work

 

 

See acute medicine

Gastroenterology

 

 

 

Inpatient/

Outpatient work

 

 

See acute medicine

 

Endoscopy

(Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, colonoscopy)

 

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

 

Ability to wear lead apron for extended periods

 

May present problems for doctors with musculoskeletal conditions especially neck and lower back

 

Insertion of PEG tubes

 

 

Haematology and oncology

 

 

 

Inpatient/

Outpatient work

 

 

See acute medicine

 

 

Bone marrow and trephine biopsy

 

Intrathecal chemotherapy

 

Pleural aspiration

 

Ascitic drainage

 

 

 

 

 

Working with patients with cancer

Emotional resilience

May present problems for doctors suffering from psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety

Infectious diseases

 

 

 

Inpatient/

Outpatient work

 

 

See acute medicine

 

 

Contact with patients with highly infectious conditions

 

 

May present problems for doctors who are immunosuppressed due to variety of causes including medication, radiotherapy, HIV etc

Specific concerns during pregnancy (e.g. parvovirus, measles, whooping cough)

Case by case assessment and advice suggested

Neurology

 

 

 

Inpatient/

Outpatient work

 

 

See acute medicine

 

Lumbar Puncture – therapeutic and diagnostic

 

 

Palliative medicine

 

 

 

Inpatient/

Outpatient work

 

 

See acute medicine

 

Management of Epidural and intra-thecal spinal lines

 

 

 

Pleural aspiration

. May require adopting awkward postures to complete procedure

 

 

Working with patients with cancer and other terminal illnesses

Emotional resilience

May present problems for doctors suffering from psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety

Renal medicine

 

 

 

Inpatient/

Outpatient work

 

 

See acute medicine

 

Kidney Biopsy

 

 

 

Insertion of haemodialysis catheter and supervision of dialysis

 

 

Doctors who are carriers of the Hepatitis B virus may be unfit for renal medicine work. Specific Department of Health guidance applies. Needs referral to Occupational Health and case by case management

Respiratory medicine

 

 

 

Inpatient/

Outpatient work

 

 

See acute medicine

 

Insertion of chest drains

Good hand eye coordination especially if done under ultrasound guidance

 

 

Bronchoscopy

 

 

May present problems for doctors with musculoskeletal conditions especially neck and lower back

 

 

 

 

Rheumatology

 

 

 

Inpatient/

Outpatient work

 

 

See acute medicine

 

Joint Aspiration

Joint injection

Punch skin and needle muscle biopsy