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Thyroid problems are a common presentation at primary care and also to a wider healthcare audience yet it is poorly served in the postgraduate educational arena. We therefore feel it is an appropriate time to develop the UK’s first PGCert in Thyroid Medicine.

Thyroid conditions represent a significant and growing area of care with the volume of investigations exacerbated by the recent pandemic, particularly within primary care, evidence-based patient information and ongoing research into a range of conditions presenting across the population. Figures from the NMC Register for March 2022 show a total of 567,291 Adult Nurses (NMC, 2022). The market for this programme is considered to be large, as the topic area is applicable to a broad range of healthcare professions with a need for long-term monitoring and further research, which indicates the potential for further growth domestically and internationally.

CAREERS

PG Certificate courses are increasingly required by HCPs for their postgraduate career development. This accessible, online programme will help to develop higher-order thinking, including critical analysis skills, whilst furnishing postgraduate students with applicable knowledge to take an active lead in the improved delivery of high quality care in a range of settings.

Whilst the focus of the programme is to support the acquisition of knowledge within a multidisciplinary approach that is directly applicable to patient care, students will also be offered the opportunity to enhance their research skills, communication, problem-solving, IT skills and the confidence and resilience needed to use their own initiative and manage their time effectively.

This range of knowledge and skills would support students’ opportunities to secure and develop roles related to thyroid medicine within primary and secondary care including endocrinology nurse practitioner and diabetes specialist nurse; also careers in clinical biochemistry and opportunities to progress in multiple positions within allied health specialties.

Following the completion of the programme, students may value personal progression to related PGDip and MSc-based programmes to further their lifelong learning and actively contribute to further research in this important field.