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General internal medicine: a neurology registrar’s guide to making the most of medical attachments
  1. Neil Watson
  1. Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Neil Watson, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; neil.watson{at}nhs.scot

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Neurology training in the UK was reformed in 2021 to include accreditation in general internal medicine (GIM). This reformation was debated,1 noting the downsides of sacrificing time to GIM as neurology grows increasingly complex.

I have now completed two GIM rotations. During these, I have reflected on what does and does not work well for neurology registrars in GIM and how to get the most out of placements. This letter is to report that GIM attachments can be positive experiences and to help other registrars navigate this new territory. The letter gives an opinion based on a single-person experience—written in the hope that it will be useful to some, helping them to avoid pitfalls, and that it might prompt further dialogue.

First, don’t assume GIM is time away from neurology. Neurological disorders are common: they comprise 10%–20% of acute take admissions2–5 and are prevalent among inpatients.6–8 You will see lots of neurology, as well as non-neurological complications of neurological diseases. You will also see conditions that might not have come your way in neurology, including infections, tumours and neurosurgical pathology. Anyone who has …

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  • X @NeilRJWatson1

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed by Matt Jones, Manchester, UK.