Speciality: Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery
The programme is recruited as “run-through” training, with entry at ST1 leading to CCT at ST8 with satisfactory progression. There is direct competitive entry into ST1 from FY2.
Opportunities for advanced sub-specialty training in all branches of Orthopaedic surgery exist including: hand surgery, spinal surgery, paediatric surgery, limb reconstruction surgery and tumour surgery.
The first two years are spent gaining experience in generic surgical skills and knowledge. While always based primarily in orthopaedics, trainees will rotate into three months each of intensive care and plastic surgery during their first two years. During Years 3 to 6, our trainees rotate through a modular programme with eight six month placements covering general Orthopaedic and Trauma surgery, Arthroplasty, Tumour surgery, Paediatrics, Hand, Spine and foot and ankle surgery.
After sitting the fellowship examination in ST 7, opportunity exists for more advanced training in areas of special interest before completion of training and award of CCT at the end of Year 8.
Opportunities exist in Scotland for advanced clinical fellowships in all Orthopaedic specialties. The training programme is flexible and will accommodate part-time posts or periods spent in research. There are ample opportunities in Scotland to carry out periods of full time research if desired and many trainees on this programme chose to take advantage of these opportunities.
The Orthopaedic training programmes in Scotland are based in each of the 4 regions (based around Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow). Each offers high quality training in a well-organized and supervised setting with a high consultant to trainee ratio. In addition to the various clinical attachments there is a core teaching programme and clinical conferences, lectures and tutorials. There are excellent library and IT facilities.
The Scottish NHS has developed differently to the health services in other parts of the UK. This has had a number of advantages for training. In particular, Trauma and Orthopaedics in Scotland has not been subject to the pressures from independent sector treatment centres which have reduced training opportunities in teaching hospitals in England.
There are ample opportunities to carry out research and audit in the South East of Scotland, and the region is renowned as a powerhouse of academic output. We have close ties with the University of Edinburgh and Napier University, and multiple trainees have taken part at all levels of research from small projects through to PhDs in basic science, translational and clinical research. Research is actively encouraged both within programme and on an out of programme basis and trainees are encouraged to produce two papers each year during their training.
A structured teaching programme is delivered on a regional basis. This consists of a full day once a month and attendance is compulsory, with trainees released from clinical duties to attend. Regional and national speakers are invited to attend, and there are also opportunities for dry bone workshops and simulated training. Each hospital also delivers a local teaching programme, usually on a weekly basis. Every year a full Mock FRCS exam is carried out for those at ST3 and above which includes multiple choice, vivas and clinicals spread over two days.
We have close ties with the Anatomy Department allowing for multiple anatomy sessions both as part of the structured teaching programme and on an ad hoc basis as required by specific trainees.Every year Edinburgh hosts an International Trauma Symposium and trainees are encouraged to attend.
The training scheme in SE Scotland also encourages trainees to make use of out of programme training experiences such as the Scottish Leadership Fellow programme, out of programme experience for teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and various managerial development programmes.
Forth Valley Royal Hospital - FVRH, Gartnavel General, Glasgow, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, 50 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SF, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, Borders General Hospital, Melrose
South East Scotland – placements in Edinburgh hospitals, Stirling, Falkirk, Borders and Fife:
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Trauma unit
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Arthroplasty
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Foot and ankle surgery
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Upper limb surgery
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Adult spinal surgery
Royal Hospital for Sick Children Paediatric Trauma and Orthopaedics
Royal Hospital for Sick Children Paediatric spinal surgery
Borders General Hospital, Melrose
General Orthopaedic Surgery, Fife Hospitals
General Orthopaedics and Trauma, Falkirk
| Programme Type | Deanery based or National: Deanery |
| Administration office | South-East of Scotland |
| Lead Dean / Director | Professor Adam Hill |
| Responsible Associate Postgraduate Dean or Assistant Director (GP) | Mr Stuart Suttie |
| Specialty or Sub-specialty | Specialty or Sub-specialty: Specialty |
| Date of GMC recent approval | August 2010 |
| Associated Royal College - Faculty |
Joint Committee on Surgical Training (web site) |
| Curriculum and Associated Assessment System | http://www.gmc-uk.org/education/postgraduate/trauma_and_orthopaedic_surgery.asp |
| Programme Administrator: |
Named Programme Administrator:
Fiona Fourie
Address: NHS Education for Scotland, 1st Floor, 102 West Port, Edinburgh, EH3 9DN Tel: 0131 656 3470 Email: fiona.fourie@nhs.scot |
| Programme Director |
Programme Director Name: Emily Baird Address: Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Little France Tel: Email: emily.baird@nhs.scot |
| Quality of Training | Quality Management |