Forensic Histopathology

Programme description

GMC Reference: WOS2582

From 2012 Forensic Histopathology in the UK has been a CCT specialty in its own right. The specialty requires a component of basic histopathology training encompassing surgical pathology, autopsy and cytopathology and starts at ST3 level (or higher). In Scotland, Forensic Histopathology is a national programme with recruitment managed nationally and training follows the RCPath curriculum.

There are 4 training sites in Scotland, based in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow and all with secondments to other training sites as required.  Core training will be delivered in individual departments with variable requirements to rotate to other departments. The exact length of these rotations will be decided through monitoring of the trainee’s progression and their exposure to adequate numbers and specific types of cases.

Trainees in all posts will be required to gain experience in Neuropathology and Paediatric Pathology as per RCPath Curriculum.  Extended periods spent in these specialties are delivered in Edinburgh (Neuropathology) and Glasgow (Paediatric Pathology).

During their time in their base departments the trainees will be exposed to routine, forensic and homicide cases as well as attending court and participating in next of kin meetings. Progression in training will also follow the Crown/Pathology recommendations starting with observation and gradually evolving into supervised work in a variety of cases.  There will be continuous exposure to gross and microscopic pathology as well as a variety of ancillary investigations including toxicology, biochemistry and microbiology.

The trainees will participate in an on on-call rota and will gain experience in scene examination as well as suspicious deaths.

All departments have strong links with histopathology and specialist expertise and learning opportunities would be readily available.  There are opportunities for communication with a variety of experts in the country including toxicology, anthropology and entomology, providing the trainees with exposure to the range of forensic expertise required on a routine basis.

Research, audit, teaching and management opportunities

Research, audit, teaching and management opportunities

There are ample opportunities to take part in research projects, laboratory and clinical audits. All training centres offer these within departments, in affiliated laboratories and local university departments. Trainees will also have opportunities to participate in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching as well as training histopathology trainees. Trainees will also participate in management activities which are an integral part of quality improvement.

There are excellent educational opportunities delivered through a national teaching programme and participation of consultants and trainees in all the centres in regular audits, difficult case discussions and journal clubs locally and remotely.  

Where the training is delivered?

• Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
• Ninewells Hospital, Dundee
• Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
• The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow

Where is the training delivered?

• Forensic Pathology at the University of Aberdeen
• Forensic Pathology at the University of Dundee
• Forensic Pathology at NHS Lothian
• Forensic Medicine and Science Department at the University of Glasgow
• Trainees will rotate in local hospital and various city and hospital mortuaries. 

Contacts and useful links

Information
Programme type (Deanery or National):	Deanery
Administration office:	National
Lead Dean / Director:	Dr Marion Slater
Responsible Associate Postgraduate Dean or Assistant Director (GP):	Dr Clair Evans
Specialty or Sub-specialty:	Specialty
Date of GMC recent approval:	Oct 2012
Associated Royal College - Faculty:	Royal College of Pathologists
Curriculum and associated assessment system:	https://www.rcpath.org/trainees/training/training-by-specialty/forensic-histopathology-2021.html
Programme administrator:	Name: Dianne Morrison Email: Dianne.Morrison@nhs.scot
Programme director(s):	Name: Kerryanne Shearer Address: NHS Education for Scotland, Forest Grove House, Foresterhill Road, Aberdeen. AB25 2ZP Email: K.Shearer@ed.ac.uk
Quality of training:	Quality Management

How to apply

This page was last updated on: 07.03.2025 at 10.42