Rehabilitation Medicine
Programme description
GMC Reference: SES/443
Why choose this programme:
Rehabilitation medicine will be attractive to those doctors who enjoy working in a multidisciplinary setting to ameliorate the impact of disability on people’s everyday lives. Rehabilitation medicine physicians will support patients and their families through periods of change and need to be skilled in managing the physical, emotional and behavioural aspects of disabling illness. Many of the patients have recently had significant trauma, stroke, or
neurosurgery and confidence in dealing with a wide range of diagnoses and ill patients is essential. Rehabilitation is an attractive career option for those who wish to enjoy flexibility in their training or ultimate career post in terms of hours and work commitment. There are opportunities to pursue research, non-clinical and managerial roles. Many consultants develop an interest in medio-legal work.
Rehabilitation medicine is the specialty that is concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation management of people with disabling medical conditions. It was developed primarily to meet the needs of young adults and those of working age but is relevant to older people now as well who can benefit from modern rehabilitation techniques and some aspects of the specialty, particularly relating to technical aids, provision of wheelchairs, orthotics or prosthetics, have been relevant to people of all ages for a long time.
The principal aims are to identify the impairments that limit activity and daily tasks; optimise physical and cognitive functioning; and modify personal and environmental factors to enable greater participation and quality of life.
Rehabilitation medicine covers a large number of disabling conditions. The majority are acquired, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis and limb loss. Congenital conditions or those arising in childhood, such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophies and limb deficiency, will continue into adulthood and require ongoing support, advice and assistance.
The specialist services that deal with these are neurological and spinal cord injury rehabilitation, major trauma rehabilitation, limb loss or deficiency rehabilitation and prosthetics, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Rehabilitation medicine consultants also have specialist expertise in assistive technology, including environmental control equipment, wheelchairs and orthotics; these are not disease specific and cover a wide range of complex disabilities.
Entrance Qualifications
Entrance qualifications for Rehabilitation uniquely include membership of any of the royal colleges.
Internal Medicine Training stage 1 - two years
ACCS-Internal Medicine - three years
Level 1 Paediatrics training - three years
Core Surgical Training - two years
Core level training in Anaesthetics - two years
Core Psychiatry Training - three years
Obstetrics and Gynaecology training - two years
Ophthalmic Specialist Training - two years
General Practice training - three years
Research, audit, teaching and management opportunities
When in training there are regular opportunities for audit/quality improvement projects, and teaching of undergraduate/postgraduate medical/non-medical clinical staff in each of the local education providers.
Management experience is gained locally, and trainees attend Deanery management courses.
Trainees can go out of programme if they want to undertake any relevant research degrees approved by Deanery.
Where the training is delivered?
- Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh
- Raigmore Hospital, Inverness
- The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow
- Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen
Rehabilitation Medicine training is provided as a national Scottish wide programme, ensuring optimal access to the range of subspecialty experience available.
Trainees will be based in either South-east, North or West regions.
Training is delivered across:
South-east region:
Lothian Health Board: Astley Ainslie Hospital
North region:
Grampian Health Board: Woodend Hospital
Highland Health Board: Raigmore Hospital
West region:
Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Neurorehabilitation Unit
Ayrshire and Arran Health Board: Ayrshire Central Hospital
All trainees will undertake Spinal Injuries training in the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit in West region.
Contacts and useful links
Information |
|
| Programme type (Deanery or National): | Deanery |
| Administration office: | National |
| Lead Dean / Director: | Professor Adam Hill |
| Responsible Associate Postgraduate Dean or Assistant Director (GP): | Dr Jane Rimer |
| Specialty or Sub-specialty: | Specialty |
| Date of GMC recent approval: | Aug 2010 |
| Associated Royal College - Faculty: |
Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board |
| Curriculum and associated assessment system: | https://www.thefederation.uk/training/specialties/rehabilitation-medicine |
| Programme administrator: |
Name:
Victoria Hannah
Address: NHS Education for Scotland, Third Floor, 2 Central Quay, 89 Hydepark Street, Glasgow. G3 8BW Email: victoria.hannah2@nhs.scot |
| Programme director(s): |
Name:
Dr Lynne Hutton Address: Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine, Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh. EH9 2HL Tel: 0131 5379086 Email: Lynne.Hutton@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk |
| Quality of training: | Quality Management |
This page was last updated on: 25.02.2025 at 16.51