Background

Following concerns voiced by James Leonard that new training proposals in the United Kingdom did not recognise clinical paediatric metabolic disease as a specific speciality, Council was prompted to ascertain :

a) whether the SSIEM could help to rectify this problem
and
b) existing arrangements in other countries.

A survey together with Corresponding Members confirmed the lack of formal arrangements in virtually all countries (except Holland) and that guidelines or recommendations from the SSIEM would be helpful.

It was clearly recognised that the SSIEM might not be able to directly influence national training due to the many local differences but it could formulate recommended clinical and laboratory based syllabuses that national groups or individual members could use to influence those responsible for training in their own area.

Introduction

Two syllabuses have been drawn up, one for clinical training and the other for those who will be working in a laboratory providing a specialised service for the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with inborn errors of metabolism.

Both are intended to be comprehensive and it is not expected that all subjects will be covered in the same detail. The syllabuses have been endorsed by the Council of the SSIEM but the exact training programme is not specified as this will depend of local regulations and conditions. However specific examples of training schemes in certain countries are available and are kept on file.

It needs to be recognised that many centres will not be able to provide a fully comprehensive training and trainers, trainees as well as funding bodies need to appreciate the importance of work at other centres to ensure satisfactory training.

References

The following documents were available as the basis for our recommendations.

• Syllabus for training in clinical paediatric metabolic medicine prepared by J. Leonard
• Training in Inborn Errors of Metabolism for Scientists and Medically Qualified Laboratory Staff. UK/Netherlands produced by J. Bonham and A. van Gennip.
• Discussion document of the German working group for paediatric metabolic disorders (APS)
• Various correspondence between E.A. Kvittingen and J. Leonard.
• Draft Guidelines for HGSA Accreditation in Biochemical Genetics. Human Genetics Society of Australasia, Biochemical Genetics Board of Censors
• Theory course programme for the inter-university diploma in inherited metabolic disorders. Received from P. Divry. (in French)

Information has been taken from each of these documents but the recommended syllabuses are mainly based on the first two of these.