Urology
Programme description
GMC Reference: WOS/510
The West of Scotland training programme is a decoupled specialty training programme providing training in Urological Surgery from ST3 – ST7. It is a popular rotation and receives excellent feedback in the annual GMC survey. For 2025, it was rated number 1 in the UK for overall trainee satisfaction.
The West of Scotland Urology Training Programme offers an ideal training environment in a particularly beautiful part of the UK. The programme benefits from having access to both city centre teaching hospitals and large peripheral units offering the complete range of urological training. Within the programme there are national referral centres for Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection, Spinal Neuromodulation, Spinal Injuries and Prostatic Cryotherapy. There are tertiary referral centres for Complex Renal Cancer Surgery, Penile Cancer, Urethral Surgery, Lower Urinary Tract Reconstruction, and Andrology. In addition, there are sub-specialty interests in Laparoscopic Surgery, Endo-urology, Pelvic oncology and Female urology. Opportunities for sub-specialty development are therefore excellent. The majority of units have robotic platforms and trainees are encouraged to seek out these operative opportunities.
Geographically the area covered by the programme is small and trainees can live in Glasgow and easily commute to all the peripheral sites. The size of the programme is also ideal in that the Training Programme Director can easily be familiar with all the trainees in post and respond quickly and effectively to any problems. The West of Scotland contains stunningly beautiful areas such as Loch Lomond and the Firth of Clyde which are a very short distance from Glasgow and the Forth Valley section of the rotation allows easy access to historic areas such as Stirling and Edinburgh.
Entry is via UK national selection. There are currently 19 STRs in the programme as of 2023 with an intention for further expansion. The programme provides broad experience in all aspects of both core and subspecialty urology and an active teaching curriculum.
Placements are for one year with a balance between district general hospitals and Glasgow teaching hospitals with tertiary subspecialty activity. There are 6 placement options:
- Glasgow Royal Infirmary including Stobhill Hospital
- Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow including New Victoria Infirmary
- Royal Alexandra Hospital Paisley
- University Hospital Monklands including Wishaw Hospital and Hairmyers Hospital
- University Hospital Ayr including Crosshouse Hospital
- Forth Valley Royal Hospital
At each base unit, some outpatient, elective operating and emergency work might take place at other hospitals within the health board.
Phase 2 trainees (ST3-5) will be expected to meet the targets required in index procedures and critical conditions whilst focusing on core urology knowledge. Trainees will aim to sit the FRCS Urol during ST6 and can discuss with the TPD if they wish to sit early if they can demonstrate experience of the breadth of the curriculum. Phase 3 trainees (ST6-7) are required to declare a Special interest module and will be allocated placements to provide the training required to complete the assessments. All sites across the rotation can provide training in SIM.
Teaching is pan Scotland with trainees from both Scottish regions either in person or online. There is an active monthly protected teaching programme organised by the TPD’s. Each April there is an in-service mock FRCS Urol viva day for all ST’s delivered by local faculty. Teaching sessions are consultant delivered with a combination of local, regional, national and internation speakers. The teaching programme also includes simulation for teaching of practical skills as well as the inclusion of human factors and non-technical skills as per the curriculum.
The teaching programme consistently scores highly in trainee surveys, and the programme has had a 100% pass rate in the final FRCS Urol examination for many years.
All Trainees are expected to perform an audit, QI project or undertake research each year and must present their findings at the annual presentation afternoon as well as at regional and national meetings.
Trainees are provided with global objectives each year to guide their training and goals. The Training committee is responsible for ensuring trainees meet their targets in a supportive, educationally robust environment.
Research, audit, teaching and management opportunities
There are opportunities to be involved in the urology research programme at the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, directed by Professors Hing Leung and Imran Ahmad. There is currently one academic trainee on the rotation and previous academic trainees have made a significant impact within urology research. The programme has links to international centres of excellent which provide opportunities for OOP experience.
Each base unit has opportunities for local leadership and management roles and the rotation encourage trainees who wish to explore a Scottish Clinical Leadership fellowship or regional and national committee roles.
Where the training is delivered?
- Forth Valley Royal Hospital - FVRH
- Gartnavel General, Glasgow
- Glasgow Royal Infirmary
- Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley
- The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow
- University Hospital Ayr
- University Hospital Hairmyres, East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire
- University Hospital Monklands, Airdrie
- University Hospital Wishaw
University Hospital Ayr, Forth Valley Royal Hospital - FVRH, Gartnavel General, Glasgow, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, University Hospital Hairmyres, East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, University Hospital Monklands, Airdrie, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley , The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow , University Hospital Wishaw
Contacts and useful links
Information |
|
| Programme type (Deanery or National): | Deanery |
| Administration office: | West |
| Lead Dean / Director: | Professor Adam Hill |
| Responsible Associate Postgraduate Dean or Assistant Director (GP): | Mr Bryn Jones |
| 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: | https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/standards-guidance-and-curricula/curricula/urology-curriculum |
| Programme administrator: |
Name:
Fiona Fourie
Address: NHS Education for Scotland, 102 West Port, Edinburgh, EH3 9DN Tel: 0131 656 3470 Email: Fiona.Fourie@nhs.scot |
| Programme director(s): |
Name:
Holly Bekarma Address: University Hospital Ayr, Dalmellington Road, Ayr KA6 6DX Email: holly.bekarma@aapct.scot.nhs.uk |
| Quality of training: | Quality Management |
This page was last updated on: 12.09.2025 at 12.55