Scottish Medical Training

Respiratory Medicine presents a broad range of career opportunities many of which involve a mixture of clinical activities and practical procedures. The East of Scotland Training Programme is primarily delivered through Ninewells hospital, a large regional centre with an undergraduate Medical School. District General attachments are provided at Perth Royal Infirmary.  

Trainees will be provided with broad experience to Respiratory Medicine and various subspecialty services including Cystic Fibrosis, Interstitial Lung disease, Bronchiectasis, Difficult Asthma and dysfunctional breathing, COPD, Lung cancer, Sleep disorders and Non-invasive ventilation.  We also provide training in Bronchoscopy, EBUS, interventional techniques such as Bronchial Stenting, Cryotherapy and Photodynamic therapy, and Medical Thoracosopy. We have fully equipped pulmonary function laboratories on both Ninewells and PRI sites, and training in cardiopulmonary exercise testing will also be offered. Formal attachments to other specialties such as Infectious Diseases, Cardiology and other GIM specialties can be organised. A formal 3 month ICU block is mandatory for all trainees. Specific attachments to the Scottish Pulmonary Vascular Unit in Glasgow and the Transplant centre at the Freeman hospital in Newcastle are also offered. We can accommodate specific training

Although the East of Scotland training programme, comprising of 6 trainees, is the smallest in Scotland we pride ourselves in providing comprehensive training in Respiratory medicine in a friendly and supportive environment. We consistently receive good feedback from the GMC survey and all our trainees in recent years have successfully gained their CCT and moved on to consultant or senior lecturer posts.

Placements typically last for six months or one year and trainees will often commence training in a General Medicine post either at PRI or Ninewells Hospital. In these posts there will be two sessions per week available for Respiratory clinics or bronchoscopy.  Later years will focus primarily on Respiratory medicine in order to achieve the competencies required of the Respiratory Curriculum. Throughout the training programme trainees will participate in the evening, overnight and weekend General Medical rotas, and these commitments will contribute to the GIM training. All trainees will be registered for dual accreditation in Respiratory and GIM. The training experience is supported by the TPDs in Respiratory Medicine and GIM, as well as each trainees’ nominated Educational Supervisor. Participation in the annual ARCP process is mandatory.

The Scottish National Respiratory Training programme offers a 2 year rolling programme of one day training events with teaching provided by both local and National speakers.  In addition to covering the core curriculum there are opportunities for practical skills development such as thoracic ultrasound, EBUS and progressive cardiopulmonary exercise testing.  Trainees are encouraged to seek external learning experiences to allow development of their subspecialty interests.

Trainees are encouraged to participate in research and audit and formal out of programme opportunities for MSc in teaching or an MD/PhD thesis in research are actively encouraged. Dundee has a vibrant academic environment with world leading departments undertaking work in basic science, translational research and Respiratory Clinical Pharmacology.

Dundee University medical school consistently ranks top in Scotland and very highly in national UK University league tables. All our trainees are expected to actively participate in teaching and assessment at all stages of the curriculum both in the Clinical Skills Department and in clinical environments. Post-graduate teaching diplomas are available should trainees wish to develop an interest in Medical Education.

Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Perth Royal Infirmary, Forth Valley Hospital, Larbert, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy