Scottish Medical Training

GMC Reference: NOS/423

 

Why choose this programme

The training programme in Haematology in North region is of very high quality, delivers excellent subspecialty training, offers research opportunities (OOPE) to the vast majority of trainees and is associated with a very high rate of success in the examinations of the Royal College of Pathologists. Aberdeen trainees have an excellent record of progressing to good quality consultant posts.

The north east has a very good quality of life. The areas surrounding Aberdeen are renowned for outdoor activities of all sorts from hill walking and skiing to golf and sailing.

 

Specialty Information

The senior doctors providing training in the Aberdeen programme in Haematology have a range of sub-specialties that really do provide trainees with a great opportunity. In addition to expertise in different aspects of clinical and laboratory medicine there is a very strong academic presence which offers excellent opportunities for basic scientific research. Many of the consultants have significant national roles and college responsibilities. The bulk of the training is provided on the main health campus at Foresterhill which houses BTS, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and the University of Aberdeen’s Suttie Centre (Undergraduate Medical School), Dental School and Institute of Medical Science (Research Centre). This results in the formation of excellent relationships between trainees and trainers and the opportunity to collaborate and participate in many university activities.  There is an active autologous stem cell transplant programme in Aberdeen and an opportunity to undertake placement at the Scottish National allogeneic stem cell transplant facility in Glasgow.

 

We provide a constant exposure to all aspects of Haematology, so that rather than spending long swaths of time in a cancer centre with no exposure to general, laboratory, haemostasis and transfusion medicine, our StRs have continuous exposure through our in department educational programme. We have a very high rate of finding the resource to offer research time to trainees. Recent StRs have chosen to study for MSc, MD and PhD degrees successfully.

The training rotation is developed with the needs of the StRs at different points in their training. The StRs gain subspecialty knowledge during laboratory and clinical attachments. There are numerous projects in malignant, haemostasis and transfusion medicine and we have access to high quality collaborations with colleagues in the University IMS.

There are active projects on going in all aspects of haematology. Our major research activity is lead by Professor Mark Vickers and Professor Nicola Mutch.

There is a weekly teaching programme for StRs delivered by the Consultants and the trainees in collaboration.  Additionally there are regional meetings between Aberdeen and Dundee on a 4 monthly basis.  Teaching is constantly provided in the ward, laboratory and clinic as part of the normal working process i.e. see an interesting case - teach on it.

Trainees are encouraged to seek out opportunistic research opportunities and to put themselves forward for consideration of participation in national meetings. The training programme is fashioned around sitting the FRCPath to a significant degree and research as mentioned above is nearly always supported for the majority of StRs.

Where is the training delivered?

This programme may involve placements in some or all of these Health Boards and hospitals:

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Perth Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen Childrens Hospital, Aberdeen, and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Glasgow.

Training is delivered across:

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Perth Royal Infirmary, Royal Aberdeen Childrens Hospital, The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow

Training is primarily delivered across:

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

 

Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital

North of Scotland Regional Transfusion Centre (SNBTS) at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen

 

Rotations may also include the following placements: 

Ninewells Hospital, Dundee

Perth Royal Infirmary, Perth

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow

Programme Type	Deanery based or National: Deanery
Administration office	West of Scotland
Lead Dean / Director	Professor Adam Hill
Responsible Associate Postgraduate Dean or Assistant Director (GP)	Dr Marion Slater
Specialty or Sub-specialty	Specialty or Sub-specialty: Specialty
Date of GMC recent approval	August 2010
Associated Royal College - Faculty	Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (web site)
Curriculum and Associated Assessment System	http://www.gmc-uk.org/education/haematology.asp
Programme Administrator:	Named Programme Administrator: Christine Ferguson Address: NHS Education for Scotland 2 Central Quay 89 Hydepark Street Glasgow, G3 8BW Tel: Email: Christine.Ferguson@nhs.scot
Programme Director	Programme Director Name: Dr Mohammed Khan Address: Aberdeen Royal Infirmary AB25 2ZN Tel: 01224-553394 Email: mohammed.khan3@nhs.scot
Quality of Training	Quality Management