Paediatrics
Programme description
GMC Reference: NOS/488
Why choose this programme - National Recognition
In the 2024 GMC National Training Survey, the North of Scotland Paediatrics Programme was ranked 1st out of 19 regions across the UK—a testament to our commitment to high-quality training, trainee support, and educational excellence.
North of Scotland Paediatric Training Programme
Where Do We Train?
We are a small but close-knit deanery, based in one of the most scenic regions of the UK. Training is primarily based across two cities: Aberdeen and Inverness, with placements at three key sites:
- Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH)
- Aberdeen Maternity Hospital (AMH)
- Raigmore Hospital, Inverness
RACH and AMH are co-located on the Foresterhill Health Campus in Aberdeen, while Raigmore Hospital serves the Highland region from Inverness. The distance between Aberdeen and Inverness is approximately 2.5 hours by road.
Health Boards & Training Opportunities
NHS Grampian
RACH and the Neonatal Unit at AMH serve a broad population, including Orkney and Shetland. Transport for acutely unwell neonates and children from the islands is typically by air. To the north, Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin has a small 24-hour paediatric unit offering further experience in a District General Hospital (DGH) setting.
NHS Highland
Although smaller in size, Raigmore Hospital’s paediatric unit covers a vast geographical area, stretching from Wick in the north to Argyll in the west. Peripheral hospitals—Caithness General (Wick), Belford Hospital (Fort William), and Broadford Hospital (Isle of Skye)—do not have dedicated acute paediatric units. However, they provide valuable context during Community Paediatrics placements, where trainees may attend outreach clinics in these rural locations. Trainees based in Inverness gain a unique insight into delivering care across remote and rural communities.
Shape of Training & Progress+
The Progress+ curriculum and Shape of Training reforms were rolled out nationally in August 2023. In the North of Scotland, we continue to adapt and evolve our program to align with these changes, in consultation with our Training Programme Director (TPD).
New Progress+ Framework:
- Level 1: ST1–ST4
- Level 2: ST5–ST7
Trainees progress by achieving competency-based outcomes rather than fixed time periods. Progress+ is underpinned by the 11 Training Principles in the Progress Plus curriculum.
Resources:
- Shape of Training / Progress+: https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/shape-training-progress
- How will Progress+ affect current trainees?: https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/how-will-progress-affect-current-trainees
Our Training Programme
The North of Scotland Paediatric Training Programme supports a cohort of approximately 41 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) trainees. As a relatively small and cohesive programme, we offer:
- Close trainee–consultant supervision and support
- Personalised educational guidance
- Opportunities to build strong peer relationships
- Broad exposure across tertiary, district general, and remote/rural paediatric care settings
Leadership
The programme is led by:
Dr Shyla Kishore
Training Programme Director (TPD) & Head of School for Paediatrics, North of Scotland
Dr Alistair Campbell, Associate Postgraduate Dean, Paediatric programmes, North and East of Scotland.
Dr Kishore and her team are dedicated to maintaining an inclusive, innovative and supportive training culture across all levels of paediatric training in the region.
Research, audit, teaching and management opportunities
Teaching, Support & Recognition
We are proud to provide a supportive and high-quality training environment in the North of Scotland. Our programme offers a variety of structured teaching opportunities to support both clinical and academic development:
- Regional Teaching: A bimonthly regional teaching programme brings trainees together from across the deanery for focused, curriculum-aligned sessions.
- Local In-House Teaching: Each hospital site provides regular departmental and multidisciplinary teaching, including case discussions, journal clubs, simulation sessions, and specialty-specific updates.
- Study Leave & Courses: Trainees have access to an allocated study leave budget to attend relevant external courses, conferences and exams, enabling them to tailor their learning to individual career goals and curriculum needs as per study leave policy.
Where the training is delivered?
- Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Aberdeen
- Raigmore Hospital, Inverness
- Royal Aberdeen Childrens Hospital
Contacts and useful links
Information |
|
| Programme type (Deanery or National): | Deanery |
| Administration office: | North |
| Lead Dean / Director: | Professor Alan Denison |
| Responsible Associate Postgraduate Dean or Assistant Director (GP): | Dr Alastair Campbell |
| Specialty or Sub-specialty: | Specialty |
| Date of GMC recent approval: | Aug 2010 |
| Associated Royal College - Faculty: |
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health |
| Curriculum and associated assessment system: | http://www.gmc-uk.org/education/paediatrics.asp |
| Programme administrator: |
Name:
Natalia Durok
Address: NHS Education for Scotland, Centre for Health Science, Old Perth Road, Inverness. IV2 3JH Email: natalia.durok@nhs.scot |
| Programme director(s): |
Name:
Dr Shyla Kishore Address: Dr Shyla Kishore, Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist, Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, Aberdeen. AB25 2ZG Email: shyla.kishore@nhs.net Name: Dr Alastair Campbell Email: Alastair.Campbell@nhs.scot |
| Quality of training: | Quality Management |
This page was last updated on: 28.08.2025 at 09.34