Speciality: General Surgery
Why choose this programme
The General Surgery Training Programme within the East of Scotland Deanery includes placements in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Perth Royal Infirmary and in the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy.
Specialty Information
Ninewells Hospital is a large teaching hospital and provides all acute hospital services except transplantation and cardiothoracic surgery. Services include general surgery, general medicine and all its sub-specialties, interventional cardiology, renal medicine and the dialysis unit, trauma and orthopaedics, neurosurgery and neurology, plastic surgery and the burns unit, urology, ENT, maxillo-facial surgery, ophthalmology, paediatrics, obstetrics, gynaecology, acute psychiatry, radiotherapy, oncology, genito-urinary medicine and Accident and Emergency. All supporting anaesthetic, radiology and laboratory services are on site. The hospital is integral with the Medical School and its library.
There are five general surgery wards, one each for colorectal surgery, upper GI and HPB surgery, breast surgery, vascular surgery and surgical emergency admissions. There is a 10 bed High Dependency Unit and access to Day Surgery beds. The main theatre block, Intensive Care and the University Department of Surgery are all adjacent. There are excellent facilities for upper gastrointestinal and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy as well as ERCP. General surgery has its own dedicated area within the main Out Patients suite.
Tayside's other general surgical units are located at Perth Royal Infirmary and Stracathro Hospital in Angus. The surgical directorate at Perth Royal Infirmary has 53 beds within 3 wards divided into an emergency assessment ward and elective areas encompassing upper and lower gastrointestinal surgery, breast and urology. There is a full range of supporting departments and an HDU and ITU. Stracathro Hospital is an Ambulatory Diagnostic Treatment Centre. General surgical clinics and operating lists are carried out by consultants from Ninewells and trainees have access to these facilities.
Emergency general surgery training is provided 24 hours a day in Ninewells Hospital and in Queen Margaret Hospital. Trainees contribute to emergency services between 8am and 9pm in Perth Royal Infirmary. All emergency vascular services for Tayside and Fife are provided in Ninewells Hospital and the trainees contribute to this. There is a separate vascular consultant rota. All three hospitals have a dedicated operating theatre for emergencies, running 24 hours in Ninewells Hospital and in Queen Margaret Hospital. Trainees gain experience in emergency surgery without this conflicting with elective services. The Consultant covering emergencies has no elective commitments. The trainees work a full shift pattern.
There is ample opportunity for research in collaboration with the University Department of Surgery or with other departments and clinical research is also encouraged. There is an active Medical Education Department providing Diplomas and Degree Courses and there are many teaching opportunities.
Specialty Trainees will spend the first 2 years rotating through the units in Ninewells, Perth Royal Infirmary and Queen Margaret Hospital. The next 4 years are concentrated on their sub-specialty interest within Ninewells and they are encouraged to spend one of these years in a recognised post in another centre, either within the UK or overseas. All trainees gain emergency experience throughout their training.
The East of Scotland Deanery involves Tayside, which is a beautiful area to live and work within. It has varied geography and offers diverse interests for individuals and families, from a thriving city life in Dundee to outdoor activities in Angus, Perthshire and North Fife. It has good road and rail networks to the other areas of Scotland. The quality of life in Tayside is excellent with easy access to beautiful countryside for sport and leisure as well as world-renowned facilities for golf.
Training within the Deanery is trainee focused with attention to individual trainee needs and aspirations. Ninewells is a University teaching hospital with opportunities to become involved in research. The portal of entry will be via the London Deanery for national selection.
Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Perth Royal Infirmary, Stracathro Hospital, Angus, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, Arbroath Infirmary, Angus, Crief Hospital, Crieff, Blairgowrie Community Hospital, Perth
Ninewells Hospital, Dundee
Perth Royal Infirmary, Perth
Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
Stracathro Hospital, Brechin
Community Hospitals in Pitlochry, Blairgowrie, Montrose, Crieff, Kinross, Arbroath and Forfar
| Programme Type | Deanery based or National: Deanery |
| Administration office | East of Scotland |
| Lead Dean / Director | Professor Adam Hill |
| Responsible Associate Postgraduate Dean or Assistant Director (GP) | Dr Russell Duncan |
| Specialty or Sub-specialty | Specialty or Sub-specialty: Specialty |
| Date of GMC recent approval | August 2010 |
| Associated Royal College - Faculty |
Joint Committee on Surgical Training (web site) |
| Curriculum and Associated Assessment System | http://www.gmc-uk.org/education/general_surgery.asp |
| Programme Administrator: |
Named Programme Administrator:
Jackie Aitken
Address: NHS Education for Scotland, 102 West Port, Edinburgh, EH3 9DN Tel: 0131 656 3475 Email: jackie.aitken@nhs.scot |
| Programme Director |
Programme Director Name: Claire Carden Address: Tel: Email: claire.carden@nhs.scot |
| Quality of Training | Quality Management |