Speciality: Histopathology
1a. What particular specialty learning opportunities does this program provide e.g. sub-specialty exposure, especially those which are not available elsewhere?
This programme provides the full range of diagnostic surgical pathology and cytology, with opportunities to work with specialists in many areas including haematopathology, dermatopathology and breast, GI, lung, hepatobiliary, gynaecological, renal, opthalmic and bone/soft tissue pathology. These opportunities are delivered collaboratively across both tertiary and district general settings. In addition, subspecialty experience is available in neuropathology, paediatric and perinatal pathology and forensic pathology all within the new Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
b. How do residents access these opportunities?
Residents will spend a large proportion of their training at the Queen Elizabeth University hospital in Glasgow, but will rotate out to the general departments for 2 to 3 six-month periods during training. Within Glasgow, residents rotate through the specialty teams and are also seconded to paediatric pathology and neuropathology for subspecialist training to meet the requirements of the RCPath Core Curriculum. Residents also have access to medico-legal autopsies as arranged with the forensic department and when rotating to Forth Valley Hospital.
2a. What opportunities are there for research, audit and teaching?
Audit projects are actively encouraged in each rotation with the opportunity to present findings at local and national meetings. There are many opportunities to participate in teaching, including undergraduate medical students PBL teaching, dental teaching and lecturing to nurses and science students. There are regional postgraduate teaching events for pathology residents and participation is expected. There is an active programme of pathology-related
research which interested residents can access.
b. How do trainees access these opportunities?
Residents will be signposted to all training opportunities by the training team network of clinical and educational supervisors servicing the West region.
3a. How are rotations on hospital sites organised?
Rotations are developed and managed by the training team at each site which forms part of a wider regional educational subcommittee to ensure curriculum requirements are met. The training programme director oversees the allocation of site rotations based on individual requirements and wider training landscape.
b. Which hospitals are involved?
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow
Forth Valley Royal Hospital, Larbert
Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock
Monklands Hospital, Airdrie
Forensic Medicine.
c. What degree of choice is there for trainees?
Residents submit a request for their preferred hospital(s) with reasons for this preference. The Training Programme Director plans the rotations and this is approved by the educational subcommittee.
4. What teaching (e.g. day-release or exam preparation) or learning opportunities (e.g. e-learning, OOPE), are unique to this post or a key feature in the West?
ST1 residents are offered a comprehensive early training programme which includes the 1 week introductory histopathology course, short courses in cytology (both diagnostics and non-gynaecology) and a two week neuropathology course. ST1 and ST2 residents attend a nationally delivered weekly training programme whilst ST3+ attend monthly regional teaching. Nationally within Scotland an annual resident’s symposium is also available to attend.
Programme Description
Pathology is the “hidden science behind medicine”. The pathologist is an essential member of the multidisciplinary team when it comes to patient management. The West of Scotland training programme in pathology is an excellent training programme which conforms to all of
the formal training guidelines laid out by the Royal College of Pathologists. This programme is unique in Scotland as the West of Scotland training departments are able to offer a superb mix of specialist and generalist training across the full range of specialties within pathology. This includes Paediatric Pathology, Neuropathology and Forensic Medicine, giving reisdents the opportunity to sub-specialise if desired. The Queen Elizabeth University hospital is the tertiary referral centre for highly specialised surgery, therefore producing a variety of complex resections and interesting pathology.
Residents are closely supervised and their training needs are carefully monitored throughout this programme. The West of Scotland has many training resources locally and the deanery supports training and educational opportunities out with the deanery when required, especially in the lead up to college exams.
The West also offers great opportunities for residents to participate in teaching and research which are available through the University of Glasgow academic department. Providing all the College training guidelines are met, career progression is relatively quick with opportunities to take time out for research if required.
Glasgow is well connected through public transport links and motorway networks providing achievable daily commuting times to all the training units within the West region. The West of
Scotland also offers a wide variety of city and country activities that would suit many different lifestyles and cultures. There is a good range of schools and a wide range of housing in this area.
The West offers great opportunities for trainees to participate in research and academic activities give its close affiliation with the University of Glasgow and several research units including most notably Cancer Research UK (Beatson) and Wolfson Wohl.
Histopathology training in the West of Scotland offers the opportunity to experience pathology both within a large university teaching department with subspecialisation and smaller district general hospitals. A full range of subspecialty experience is available including neuropathology, paediatric and perinatal pathology and forensic pathology at Glasgow University's department of forensic medicine.
University Hospital Crosshouse, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Forth Valley Royal Hospital - FVRH, University Hospital Monklands, Airdrie, The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow , University Hospital Wishaw
West of Scotland – placements in Glasgow, Forth Valley, Kilmarnock and Lanarkshire.
Southern General, Glasgow
Forth Valley Royal Hospital, Larbert
Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock
Monklands Hospital, Airdrie
Forensic Medicine
| Programme Type | Deanery based or National: Deanery |
| Administration office | West of Scotland |
| Lead Dean / Director | Professor Alan Denison |
| Responsible Associate Postgraduate Dean or Assistant Director (GP) | Dr Ralph Bouhaidar |
| Specialty or Sub-specialty | Specialty or Sub-specialty: Specialty |
| Date of GMC recent approval | August 2010 |
| Associated Royal College - Faculty |
Royal College of Pathologists (web site) |
| Curriculum and Associated Assessment System | https://www.rcpath.org/trainees/training/training-by-specialty/histopathology-2021.html |
| Programme Administrator: |
Named Programme Administrator:
Lynda Service
Address: NHS Education for Scotland, Forest Grove House, Foresterhill Road, Aberdeen Tel: 01224 805132 Email: Lynda.Service@nhs.scot |
| Programme Director |
Programme Director Name: Dr Noori Maka Address: Tel: Email: Noori.Maka2@nhs.scot |
| Quality of Training | Quality Management |