Scottish Medical Training

This programme offers a broad and thorough training in all aspects of Gastroenterology and Hepatology including liver transplantation. Placements are provided between the Gastroenterology Unit at the Western General Hospital (WGH) and the Gastrointestinal and Liver Unit at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE). There are regional Vascular, Colorectal, Upper GI and Hepatobiliary Units and a national Liver Transplant Unit.

Gastroenterology and liver training will either be in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh or the Western General Hospital with rotations between the two. There is a strong culture of research in both the central units with research fellowships and clinical research fellows helping with the on-call rota.

Research facilities are available on campus in both central units. Pathology, X-ray and M & M meetings take place regularly along with postgraduate teaching sessions.

With the introduction of the new curriculum, trainees will spend 12 months equivalent in GIM which is likely to be in the central teaching hospitals.

There is a small contribution to HAN throughout the 4 year programme.

There is a 24 hour consultant-supervised specialty out of hours rota at the Royal Infirmary including management of GI bleed, fulminant liver failure and transplant medicine.

During Gastroenterology training a full range of endoscopic training facilities are available, including endoscopic ultrasound and ERCP.

Whilst attached to the Royal Infirmary, exposure and training in liver transplantation and the management of acute liver failure will be available.

The Western General is a centre of excellence for IBD with a weekly regional IBD MDT.

Complex hepatology is delivered through the hepatology and transplant units at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

On call commitment is approximately 1:10 at the Royal Infirmary and 1 in 5 at the WGH (with no overnight cover).  

There has long been a strength in research at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in liver disease and at the Western General Hospital in IBD. As well as formal research training with MD and PhD’s through the University of Edinburgh, there are plenty of research and audit opportunities. Trainees will be encouraged to be involved in these and to present their findings at meetings such as the Scottish Society of Gastroenterology. For further information about research opportunities please contact p.hayes@ed.ac.uk 

Undergraduate teaching of medical students takes place at the Royal Infirmary, the WGH and St Johns hospital. Trainees will be encouraged to be involved in helping to organise and deliver some of this teaching.

Training is delivered predominantly in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, and the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh with options to rotate to our local DGH for GIM if desired.