Specialty: Haematology

GMC: WOS/425

Deanery sponsoring programme: / West of Scotland
Postgraduate Dean: / Professor Alastair McLellan
Responsible Associate Dean/GP Director: / Dr David Marshall
Programme Type -
§  Deanery-based or National: / Deanery
§  Specialty or Sub-specialty: / Specialty
Date of GMC recent approval: / August 2010
Associated Royal College / Faculty
Web address
Curriculum and Associated Assessment System / The Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB)
Link
Link
Date programme information last updated / September 2012
Recognised Programme Locations and Environments
This programme involves placements in some or all of these Health Boards and hospitals:
Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow Western Infirmary / Gartnavel General Hospitals, Glasgow
Southern General Hospital, Glasgow Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow
Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow
West Scotland Regional Transfusion Centre (SNBTS), Glasgow
Royal Alexandra Hospital (Paisley) Crosshouse Hospital, Ayr
Monklands Hospital, Airdrie Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride
Wishaw General Hospital, Wishaw Forth Valley Royal Hospital, Larbert
Programme Director / Dr Campbell Tait
Contact / Email:
Programme Description
1 a. What particular specialty learning opportunities does this program provide e.g. sub-specialty exposure, especially those which are not available elsewhere?
Our training programme is centred in the Glasgow Teaching Hospitals and enjoys exposure to all major Haematology subspecialties while serving a large population base. Regional Haemophilia, Bone Marrow Transplant and Paediatric services are the largest of their kind nationally, run by acknowledged leaders in their fields. The West of Scotland Transfusion Centre has an active training programme running alongside a routine and emergency apheresis service and stem cell collection service.
b. How do trainees access these opportunities?
The 5 year training programme rotates on a 6 monthly basis through all these areas. Extra time /subspecialty interest in a given area is arranged by early discussion with TPD and relevant Specialty Area –but is predicated on satisfactory appropriate training progress overall. All subspecialties areas can also be available to trainees from other regions by discussion with appropriate supervisors.
2 a. What opportunities are there for research, audit and teaching?
All training units have a requirement that audit is undertaken in each training area as well as regional and national audit projects. There is high local clinical trial entry in all the major NCRI studies in which trainees will participate. Local research initiatives are common and trainee participation is expected.
We are fortunate to have close links with major internationally recognised University Research Departments undertaking basic molecular research in Haematology and Haematological Disorders. For those with suitable qualifications and aptitudes, opportunities to go Out Of Programme to pursue a further postgraduate degree are available. Some 10 trainees have availed themselves of this experience in last decade. This is neither automatic nor compulsory and is dependent on the individual trainee.
b. How do trainees access these opportunities?
Access to audit, research and teaching is initially through educational supervisor and head of unit .Uniquely the West of Scotland Postgraduate Training Committee has a Research Subgroup which meets with each trainee every 2 years to ensure adequate trainee exposure .
3 a. How are rotations are hospital sites organised?
Rotations are organised to allow maximal flexibility whilst still ensuring trainees are exposed to all areas of the speciality. The first three rotations lasting eighteen months are taken up with general training aiming to pass MRCPath Haematology Part1 exam.Thereafter more specialised experience in all areas and research issues are addressed culminating in passing MRCPath Part2 in 4th/5th year.
b. Which hospitals are involved?
In Glasgow, Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, West of Scotland Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Stobhill Hospital, Victoria Infirmary, Southern General, Western Infirmary including Jubilee Hospital, West of Scotland Blood Transfusion Service and Royal Hospital for Sick Children are involved .Crosshouse ,Monklands and Royal Alexandria Hospitals provide modern, district general experience.
c. What degree of choice is there for trainees?
To embark on a career in Haematology, you need a medical degree and have passed MRCP(UK) (or MRCPCH – particularly if planning a career in paediatric haematology) and have relevant FY and CMT2 competencies. Our training programme requires exposure to specialist areas of Haematology which take up 50% of your alotted 5 year programme so your rotation slots for much of the time are organized to achieve these necessary competencies. For other areas, choices can arise and can be discussed with the training programme director and Deanery. All Haematology specialists need to pass MRCPath in Haematology to complete training and be eligible for entry to UK Specialist Haematology register.
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?
Every alternate Wednesday afternoon is given over to training in Haematology in a rolling process covering much of the syllabus.This repeats after 30 months and covers ethical, practice and management issues which link in with those organised by the Deanery. All sessions are prepared by local experts in their field with the first hour given over to essential information and the second half to more interactive case discussion usually prepared by trainees. The “other” Wednesday afternoon not used for training is often taken up by MCN, Update, and Blood Club meetings aimed at the whole haematology community which trainees have joined. Several national training programmes are available in different areas and covered by study leave. On an individual basis attachment arrangements to cover management of haemoglobinopathies will be organised . OOPE is covered in Research Section.
5. What can trainees expect of their trainers in this post?
Their trainers have all taken courses in clinical and educational supervision and are ready to teach them haematology and guide them to acquire necessary competencies, knowledge and assessments which will progress them through training. The educational process is trainee instigated and initiated. It remains essentially an educational medical apprenticeship.
6. What are key markers of success? (e.g. exam pass rates. MD, PhD, papers)
Training programme has a 100% MRCPath Haematology pass rate over the last 2 decades. Further postgraduate degrees are not essential to practise as a Haematologist however at any one time some 15% trainees are out of programme undertaking research with PhDs the target. Most trainees have several publications The ultimate success of a our training programme is seen in the number of trainees moving on to appropriate consultant posts which still stands at 100%.
7. What additional information would you like to include that may encourage trainees to apply for specialty training in this programme in preference to similar programmes in other parts of the UK?
The West of Scotland Programme has the capacity and experience of dealing with all haematological specialty aspirations - academic, teaching hospital, transfusion, subspecialty etc, within the competency based training structure and 2010 syllabus .Glasgow is a significant cultural centre scoring highly on quality of life. It covers a compact area with all training attachments within easy travelling distance of the centre.
It needs the right trainees committed and passionate about haematology.
How to apply
www.scotmt.scot.nhs.uk/
Deanery Administrative Contacts
Name
Address
Tel
Email / Janice Walker
NES, 2 Central Quay, 89 Hydepark Street, Glasgow, G3 8BW
0141 223 1422

Specialty Training Committee
Chair
Members / Dr Campbell Tait
Dr Andrew Clark, Dr Brenda Gibson, Dr Annie Latif, Dr Ian Macdonald, Dr Elizabeth Chalmers, Dr Julie Gillies, Dr Louise McIlwaine, Dr Mark Drummond, Dr Mike Leach, Dr Ulrika Paulus, Mrs Suzanne Clark (Lay)
Quality of Training
GMC Trainee Survey Information (2011) / Link