Medicine for MRCP aims to be a comprehensive guide to the MRCP examinations, and to provide the requisite theoretical knowledge in a user friendly format. Each chapter has been written by highly experienced MRCP lecturers.

The most relevant clinical information for the MRCP(UK) examinations is covered, incorporating the appropriate protocols, guidelines and treatment algorithms from NICE, UK, European and American Colleges. An emphasis has been placed on a UK clinical setting.

Latest developments and clinical treatments (e.g. biologic therapy) have been included throughout the text. Candidates who wish to read in greater depth are directed to relevant publications at the end of each section. Furthermore, the inclusion of links to carefully selected relevant websites (e.g. DVLA guidelines and current mental health legislation) are intended to provide up to date information to benefit doctors within their clinical setting and daily practice.

A well-structured and comprehensive approach to clinical medicine has been used to ensure that the text is an invaluable resource for candidates preparing for the MRCP examinations

Each chapter integrates basic science with clinically based information aimed at candidates preparing for the PACES examination. Where possible, the clinical implications of the theoretical knowledge is emphasized within the clinical context, thereby making this information easier to remember.

The text utilises a combination of flow-charts, tables and mnemonics to assist candidates in retaining and recalling the key relevant facts in both an examination setting and clinical practice.

The editors and chapter authors have combined their extensive clinical knowledge and practical teaching experience to create a book that we believe will help to optimise the chances of examination success. We hope that candidates will both enjoy and benefit from this book during their revision and clinical practice. Good luck to you all!  

Dr Rupa Bessant

Editor, Medicine for MRCP 

Course Director, PassPACES

Foreword by Dr. Michael Jones

Acquisition of the diploma of Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians is a crucial step in a physician’s working life that enables them to pursue a career in one of the thirty medical specialties and two subspecialties that are recognised by the General Medical Council (GMC). The work and training that is required to pass the three parts of the examination should not be underestimated by anyone. Trying to learn the enormous extent of medicine so that the trainee has enough confidence to answer the questions that are posed is daunting and there are many theories about the best way to prepare. The changes that are occurring both in medical training and indeed the MRCP does not obviate the fact that studying medicine will require a sound grounding in knowledge. It is anticipated, however, that the provision of better training will aid in the acquisition of knowledge.  

The main changes that are occurring in medical training in the UK have been driven by the Shape of Training report which recommended that all new curricula must better serve the patient need, have more generic skills to support the acute unselected take, provide continuity of care, improve care in the com­munity, support credentialing and provide a more flexible approach to training. Furthermore, the GMC mandated that all postgraduate curricula must be based on higher level learning outcomes and incorporate the GMC defined Generic Professional Capabilities (GPCs). In response to this, stage 1 of The Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) designed Internal Medicine Training (IMT) programme was implemented in August 2019. This is an indicative three-year programme designed to better prepare doctors to become a medical registrar and provide them with the skills needed to manage patients pre­senting with a wide range of general medical symptoms and conditions. Experience in critical care medicine, geriatric medicine and outpatients is mandated and trainees will receive simulation training throughout the programme.

The use of all sources of information can only be assisted if there is an adequacy of time and the intro­duction by JRCPTB of quality standards for registrars in general internal medicine is now being augmented to cover the whole of internal medicine training.

The MRCP clinical examination is also changing and 2021 should see the introduction of the updated PACES exam to ensure it remains fair, relevant and fit for purpose. This has been the subject of a great deal of scrutiny, consultation and deliberation reflecting not only the place of the examination, but also the importance of the role of excellent clinical skills. Knowing how a disease presents and how and when to investigate such presentations is at the heart of what physicians do.

The editors for this book have enrolled an extensive field of authors who are experts in their fields to provide facts which may be assimilated rapidly and that will be helpful both in revising for the MRCP exam­inations and also in day to day practice. The consistency of editorship means that individual conditions are listed according to clinical features, diagnosis and management - a system that will serve anyone well at the bedside, whether in a clinical or exam setting. It covers aspects of medicine that have been ignored by the statutory definition of specialty but are enormously important in everyday presentations to the acute hospital, including obstetric medicine. The inclusion of critical care as a specific aspect for consideration complements well the ambition within the internal medicine training programme of generating doctors who are more able to manage the acutely ill patient. The editors have also ensured that there are chapters covering topics that traditionally are ‘Cinderella areas’ and yet are defined as being important in the new curriculum – these include Statistics and Medical Law and Ethics.

In summary, this work will help you in studying for the MRCP diploma but if used well will stand the reader in good stead for their future career.  

Dr. Michael Jones

Consultant Acute Physician

GIRFT National Clinical Lead for Acute and General Medicine