Speciality: Acute Care Common Stem - Emergency Medicine (ACCS-EM)
ACCS training programme
The ACCS-EM programme represents the core and intermediate years of the Emergency Medicine training programme. Successful applicants are offered the choice of doing core and intermediate training only ACCS CT1-3 (3 years) or ‘run-through’ specialty training from ST1-6 which combines the core and intermediate years of the ACCS programme with higher specialty EM training (6 years total).
The ACCS programme is made up of:
Year 1: 6 months acute medicine, 6 months emergency medicine
Year 2: 6 months intensive care medicine, 6 months anaesthetics
Year 3: 1 year emergency medicine, divided into 6 months focusing on paediatric emergency medicine and 6 months on musculoskeletal/trauma and general EM
The North of Scotland programme offers trainees full exposure to all aspects of Emergency Medicine in a region of the UK with unique geography, exposing doctors to a combination of urban and remote care. The trauma network spans the North of Scotland region with Aberdeen Royal Infirmary as the major trauma centre receiving patients from trauma units located at Raigmore, Inverness, Gilbert Bain Hospital Shetland, Dr Gray’s Elgin and several other units across the Highlands and Islands.
The emergency medicine programme is delivered at three main sites depending on which options successful applicants choose and what rotational posts are available. These options are given later in the “where is training delivered” section below. The sites are Aberdeen Royal Infirmary/Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital - Aberdeen, Raigmore Hospital – Inverness, and Gilbert Bain Hospital – Lerwick.
Education and development
The regional teaching programme is made up of 8 ACCS training days are delivered per year. There is additional local departmental teaching offered in all posts to help trainees cover ACCS curriculum requirements including ultrasound at years 1 and 2. Trainees have educational development time (EDT) included in their rotas (2 hours/week at CT1-2 and 3 hours/week at CT3) for carrying out clinical and non-clinical development work such as quality improvement, research and skill development such as ultrasound. At CT/ST3 emergency medicine trainees are given 10 days of additional development days to dedicate towards gaining paediatric experience in other departments. Trainees are given independence to use this time to gain a deeper understanding of paediatric care. Recent trainees have chosen child protection, paediatric day case for skills development, neonatal ICU and paediatric theatres.
Trainees taking up ACCS year 1 rotations in Gilbert Bain Hospital are granted a generous additional study budget to assist with attending teaching and courses on the mainland. Trainees are also given free accommodation on the hospital site for the duration of their year in Lerwick.
For prospective trainees considering run through training, please also see the information provided about higher speciality emergency medicine training in the Emergency Medicine - North section of the SMT website.
Aberdeen
With a population of approximately 250,000 Aberdeen stands between the Rivers Dee and Don. Aberdeen is an international centre for the oil industry but retains an old charm and character through historical buildings constructed with the sparkling local granite which earns Aberdeen the nickname ‘Granite City’. The city’s attractions are within walkable or cyclable distances for those living in the city. Some of Aberdeen’s most unique features are a clean and swimmable beach with an excellent esplanade, 3 golf courses, a dolphin observation centre and large green spaces. Within a 1 hour drive you can find yourself in some of Scotland world famous hills, castles and whisky distilleries, and a bit further on you can reach the local skiing and mountain bike resorts of Glenshee and the Lecht. There are good national and international transport links by air, rail, road and sea and a wide choice of housing in the city and in rural villages within easy commuting distance to the hospital. Education facilities include two universities, good quality public, private and international schools reflecting city’s strong family focus.
Inverness
Inverness stands on the River Ness and has a population of nearly 70,000. It was granted city status in 2000. It is an attractive city with an unexpectedly mild climate and offers easy access to the Highlands, Loch Ness and the West Coast. The city is popular with tourists and adventurers alike. It boasts an intimate but lively cultural scene, a climbing wall, as well as the popular high street shops. There are good transport links by road, rail and air to all parts of Scotland and the UK. Within an hour drive of Inverness, you will find yourself in the well-known resort of Aviemore, boasting world class mountain walking, climbing, skiing, mountain biking, water sports and night life. The Moray and Speyside regions attract whisky fans and connoisseurs from all over the world.
Lerwick
NHS Shetland is the most northerly health service in Scotland and is a unique setting in which to develop your career. It is a small organisation, with around 700 staff looking after the health needs of 23,000 people spread across 15 islands. Despite its size it boasts a highly integrated, person centred and multi-professional ethos that characterises every aspect of its operations.
This is a beautiful part of the world, with a satisfyingly different lifestyle from the metropolitan centres. The diverse nature of Shetland’s culture, the stunning scenery, the wildlife, even the local dialect, as well as the spread of different islands all make for particular professional and personal challenges. Shetland offers abundant opportunity for adventure with coastal hikes, deserted white-sand beaches and a rich array of wildlife, from otters to orcas and Shetland ponies to bustling gannet colonies.
NHS Shetland is a great place to undertake part of your training. A place where you will very quickly become a valued member of the wider muti-disciplinary team. You can be assured that appropriate facilities and equipment are as good as any you’ll get on the mainland. Moreover, the friendliness and professionalism of your new colleagues will help you to quickly find your feet and feel at home in your new surroundings.
Additional information:
NHS Grampian: http://www.nhsgrampian.org/
NHS Highland: http://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/
PICT: https://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/your-services/all-services-a-z/prehospital-immediate-care-and-trauma-pict/
EMRS North: https://www.emrsscotland.org/
The University of Aberdeen Medical School is based on the ARI campus as is the Institute of Medical Sciences which is a university research facility. For this reason, ARI is frequently a recruitment centre for national and international research projects. The Suttie Centre for Teaching and Learning in Healthcare is a large on site recently built facility managed jointly by the University and NHS Grampian (The Suttie Centre). Raigmore Hospital has its own affiliated clinical skills centre hosting a variety of life support and other courses. Gilbert Bain Hospital has a dedicated simulation and training area within the hospital and locally run life support courses. This provides trainees with ample opportunity to participate and instruct on medical courses.
Trainees are strongly encouraged to be involved in a wide range of undergraduate and post graduate teaching and management activities.
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Gilbert Bain Hospital, Lerwick, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, Royal Aberdeen Childrens Hospital
Option 1:
Year 1 – Gilbert Bain Hospital, Lerwick
Year 2 – Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Year 3 - Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital/Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Option 2:
Year 1 – Raigmore Hospital
Year 2 - Raigmore Hospital
Year 3 - Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital/Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Option 3:
Year 1 – Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Year 2 – Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Year 3 - Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital/Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Successful applicants can choose their preferred training rotation from the above selection. With the exception of option 1, or if option 1 is oversubscribed, an applicant’s placement may be their second choice between options 2 & 3. All efforts are made to match people to their 1st choice and special consideration is given to special circumstances. Please contact the TPD with any queries.
| Programme Type | Deanery based or National: Deanery |
| Administration office | North of Scotland |
| Lead Dean / Director | Professor Adam Hill |
| Responsible Associate Postgraduate Dean or Assistant Director (GP) | Dr Joy Miller |
| Specialty or Sub-specialty | Specialty or Sub-specialty: Specialty |
| Date of GMC recent approval | October 2024 |
| Associated Royal College - Faculty |
Royal College of Emergercy Medicine (web site) |
| Curriculum and Associated Assessment System | http://www.gmc-uk.org/education/emergency_medicine.asp |
| Programme Administrator: |
Named Programme Administrator:
Alan Summers
Address: NHS Education for Scotland Glasgow, G3 8BW Tel: Email: Alan.Summers@nhs.scot |
| Programme Director |
Programme Director Name: Dr Bianca Ebtehadj Address: Training Programme Director ACCS, department of Emergency Medicine, Aberdeen royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZN Tel: Email: bianca.ebtehadj@nhs.scot |
| Quality of Training | Quality Management |