Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery
Programme description
GMC Reference: NOS/858
Why choose this programme?
The North of Scotland Orthopaedic Training Programme offers a unique blend of excellent clinical experience, strong academic links, and an outstanding quality of life. Training is centered in Aberdeen and Inverness, with orthopaedic care also delivered at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin and across Orkney and Shetland.
Aberdeen, a city of around 250,000, is known as the “Granite City.” It combines a rich cultural heritage with a modern, international outlook, shaped by its role as the historic hub of the North Sea energy industry. The city has a lively cultural scene, busy shopping centres, good schools, and easy access to beaches, castles, and the Cairngorm mountains. Transport links are excellent, with direct flights to London and Amsterdam and strong rail and road connections to the rest of the UK.
Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, is one of the UK’s fastest-growing cities and a gateway to some of the most spectacular landscapes in the country. It offers a thriving city life with the Highlands on its doorstep, making it an attractive base for trainees and their families.
Specialty Information
Trainees rotate through a range of units that collectively provide exposure to the full spectrum of orthopaedics:
- Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen – one of the largest elective orthopaedic centers in the UK, with modern operating theatres, an extensive arthroplasty service, and a wide consultant base covering subspecialties including hand, tumour, spinal, and reconstructive surgery.
- Aberdeen Royal Infirmary – the Major Trauma Centre for the North of Scotland, with a dedicated orthopaedic trauma unit, consultant-led on-call service, and comprehensive imaging facilities.
- Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital – a regional center for paediatric orthopaedics, delivered by consultants with diverse subspecialty expertise.
- Raigmore Hospital, Inverness – one of the largest district general hospitals in the UK serving as a regional center for the Highlands.
- National Treatment Centre – Highland (Inverness) – a modern facility where large-volume, low-complexity arthroplasty is performed, providing excellent exposure to high-throughput joint replacement surgery.
Orthopaedic care is also delivered at Dr Gray’s Hospital, Elgin, supporting patients in Moray, and in Orkney and Shetland through visiting services.
Research, audit, teaching and management opportunities
Trainees are encouraged to engage in research and audit throughout their training. Completion of training requires either two significant publications or patient recruitment to trials. There are strong academic links with the University of Aberdeen (Medical Physics, Engineering, Rheumatology, Health Economics, Psychiatry and Radiology), including use of the RSA unit to study implant behaviour. Many trainees also pursue higher degrees (MD/PhD) or postgraduate teaching diplomas, with SCREDS and other academic opportunities available.
Postgraduate teaching is delivered monthly for all North of Scotland trainees, ensuring a shared educational programme across Aberdeen and Inverness.
Where the training is delivered?
- Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
- Dr Grays Hospital, Elgin
- Raigmore Hospital, Inverness
- Royal Aberdeen Childrens Hospital
- Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen
Contacts and useful links
Information |
|
| Programme type (Deanery or National): | Deanery |
| Administration office: | North |
| Lead Dean / Director: | Professor Adam Hill |
| Responsible Associate Postgraduate Dean or Assistant Director (GP): | Dr Melanie Clarke |
| Specialty or Sub-specialty: | Specialty |
| Date of GMC recent approval: | Aug 2010 |
| Associated Royal College - Faculty: |
Joint Committee on Surgical Training |
| Curriculum and associated assessment system: | |
| Programme administrator: |
Name:
Fiona Fourie
Address: NHS Education for Scotland, 1st floor, 102 Westport, Edinburgh. EH3 9DN Tel: 0131 656 3470 Email: fiona.fourie@nhs.scot |
| Programme director(s): |
Name:
Mr Mike Reidy Email: mike.reidy2@nhs.scot |
| Quality of training: | Quality Management |
This page was last updated on: 17.09.2025 at 16.27