Speciality: Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear Medicine is the specialty responsible for the administration of unsealed radioactive substances for the purposes of diagnosis, therapy and research. Nuclear Medicine trainees combine their skills as a physician with that of a physiological imager to solve diagnostic problems and where appropriate offer radionuclide therapy options for treatment. Specialists in Nuclear Medicine have ultimate responsibility for Nuclear Medicine services and must hold the appropriate certificate from Health Ministers to administer radioactive substances.
This is an exciting time for the discipline of Nuclear Medicine. The last 10 years have seen significant advances in technology allowing fusion of functional and anatomical images through such modalities as SPECT/CT, PET/CT and PET MR. These developments coupled with the availability of new PET tracers and new radiopharmaceuticals for therapy in Nuclear Medicine (such as radium 223) have sparked a renewed interest in the field. As a result the Nuclear Medicine specialty training curriculum underwent major revision in 2014 in order to provide specialty trainees with the skills required to report hybrid imaging studies, review diagnostic imaging studies including plain films, ultrasound and CT in patients undergoing radionuclide imaging, present and discuss a broad range of imaging data at multidisciplinary meetings and to participate in the therapy of Nuclear Medicine (now referred to as molecular radiotherapy). Trainees entering Nuclear Medicine from August 2015 will be required to undertake core level Clinical Radiology training and complete FRCR during the first 3 years of training. In the latter 3 years trainees will undertake higher training in Nuclear Medicine and complete the specialty certificate examination which for the specialty of Nuclear Medicine is the Kings College Loncon MSc diploma. This 6 year training programme will enable trainees to apply for entry to the specialtist register in both Nuclear Medicine (CCT) and Clinical Radiology (CESR CP). During the first 3 years trainees will spend the majority of their time in Radiology and contact with Nuclear Medicine will be achieved through mentorship. In the final 3 years of the training programme trainees will spend the majority of their training in Nuclear Medicine but retain contact with Radiology to keep up their skills. The final year of training will include the opportunity to take on a specialised field of study such as advanced Nuclear Medicine imaging techniques (examples here would include PET/CT, PET/MRI or Paediatric Nuclear Medicine), therapeutic Nuclear Medicine or Nuclear Medicine research. Full details of the revised specialty training curriculum are available on www.jrcptb.org.uk
The West of Scotland offers the only Nuclear Medicine Training Programme in Scotland and successful completion of the training programme will allow trainees to apply for entry to the specialist register in Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Radiology.
Entry into Nuclear Medicine training is possible following successful completion of both a foundation programme and a core training programme. There are 2 core training programmes for Nuclear Medicine training: Core Medical Training (CMT) and Acute Care Common Stem (Medicine) ACCS. Evidence of core training is provided by successful completion of approved CMT (ST1 and ST2) or the provision of other evidence of achievement of Core Medical competencies.
In view of the multidisciplinary nature of Nuclear Medicine, the specialty is considered to be strengthened by inclusion of practitioners from a variety of clinical backgrounds. Thus, this curriculum allows for entry into specialty training not only from a background in clinical medicine but also from Clinical Radiology and other specialties including surgery and Paediatrics (see new curriculum below).
The specialty of Nuclear Medicine remains a physician specialty and the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) Nuclear Medicine curriculum was published in August 2010 to keep up to date with the new GMC standards, medical advances and changes in service and training, new competencies and new assessment methods. Changes to the 2010 curriculum were approved by the GMC in August 2014 with a view to introduction in August 2015.
Radiology trainees completing subspecialty training in Radionuclide Radiology and have also completed 2 years general professional training, can apply to entre Nuclear Medicine training towards a CESR-CP in Nuclear Medicine.
Important links:
JRCPTB - http://www/jrcptb.org.uk/trainingandcert/ST3-SpR/Pages/NuclearMedicine.aspx
New Curriculum - http://www.jrcptb.org.uk/trainingandcert/ST3-SpR/Documents/2010%20Nuclear%20Medicine%20curriculum%20(amendments%202014).pdf
British Nuclear Medicine Society - http://www.bnms.org.uk/
Opportunities for participation in research and quality managment will present throughout the 6 years of the training programme but especially within year 6 of Nuclear Medicine training. The MSc in Nuclear Medicine, which can be taken during year 6, is an opportunity for a trainee to undertake a research project. Trainees are encouraged to attend and present at national and international meetings in Nuclear Medicine, either as poster or oral presentation, and to publish their research work.
Opportunities to attend and to participate in multidisciplinary meetings are encouraged throughout the training programme. Opportunities to participate in management in Nuclear Medicine are encouraged particularly in the later years of training.
Beatson (the) West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Glasgow, Gartnavel General, Glasgow, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, The Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow, Western Infirmary, Glasgow
Glasgow Royal Infirmary
Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Glasgow
Western Infirmary/Gartnavel General, Glasgow
West of Scotland PET-CT Centre, Glasgow
Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow
| Programme Type | Deanery based or National: Deanery |
| Administration office | West of Scotland |
| Lead Dean / Director | Professor Alastair McLellan |
| Responsible Associate Postgraduate Dean or Assistant Director (GP) | Dr David Marshall |
| 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/nuclear_medicine.asp |
| Programme Administrator: |
Named Programme Administrator:
Thomas Gault
Address: Tel: Email: Thomas.Gault@nhs.scot |
| Programme Director |
Programme Director Name: Dr Sai Han Address: Glasgow Royal Infirmary Tel: Email: sai.han@ggc.scot.nhs.uk |
| Quality of Training | Quality Management |