Specialty: Public Health
GMC:SES/SRT/2083
Deanery sponsoring programme:
South East of Scotland
Postgraduate Dean:
Professor W Reid
Responsible Associate Dean:
Dr Rhiannon Pugh
Programme Type -
Deanery-based or National:National
Specialty or Sub-specialty:Specialty
Date of GMC recent approval:
August 2010
Associated RoyalCollege / Faculty
Faculty of Public Health
Web address
Curriculum and Associated Assessment System
Date programme information last updated
August 2012
Recognised Programme Locations and Environments
This programme involves placements in some or all of these Health Boards and hospitals:
This programme can involve placements in Health Boards throughout Scotland.
Programme Director
Dr Jim Chalmers
Programme Description
Programme Description
Why choose this programme
Public Health is devoted to improving health in populations rather than treating illnesses in individuals. Practitioners need to be able to see the bigger and more strategic picture and have the ability to ask the most pertinent questions. There is often a more political dimension to the work, both tactically and strategically. In Scotland, there are many health issues which require a population approach in order for there to be any improvement.
Scotland is a valuable training ground for Public Health. There is a strong and enthusiastic Public Health workforce and a long history of Public Health activity. There is also great variety. Scotland has large cities and also isolated rural areas. It has to contend with high levels of deprivation and related chronic disease, and also complex health protection issues.
Because Public Health operates at a number of levels, from local action to government legislation, there are great advantages in training in a country the size of Scotland. Trainees can get to know their Public Health colleagues throughout Scotland and understand the types of environment in which they work.
Although trainees are employed by a particular institution (usually one of the 14 territorial NHS Boards) and will spend a proportion of their time working in that institution, there is opportunity and encouragement to have training attachments in a wide variety of other stimulating environments throughout Scotland. These include other NHS Board Departments of Public Health, University Departments of Public Health, central NHS organisations such as Health Protection Scotland, Local Authorities and the Scottish Government. Trainees are supported by a comprehensive national training structure.
Specialty Information
The training programme extends over a period of up to 5 years whole time equivalent, leading to CCT or CESR. The training usually includes:
- An introductory period of 3 months, commencing with an induction programme in which the new Specialist Trainee is introduced to key members of the parent department (usually an NHS Board Department of Public Health) and sees the broad range of activities that are undertaken by public health.
- Twelve months whole time (or equivalent) academic training in public health sciences. This is normally achieved by attending a Master of Public Health(MPH), or equivalent, course at Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh or GlasgowUniversities.
- A total of forty-eight months in-service training (including the introductory period) of which it is recommended that the first 18 – 24 months will be spent gaining general experience in a territorial NHS Board Department of Public Health (usually the host board) before rotation to other attachments such as other NHS Boards, Health Protection Scotland, Scottish Government, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, Information Services Division, Local Authorities etc.
Further information on a career in Public Health is available from this site,
and other information about Public Health is available from the Faculty of Public Health
The Scottish Public Health policy information is available here:
How to apply
There are likely to bethreetraining places available in 2013. These will be in the following NHS Boards:Lothian, Highland and Dumfries & Galloway. They are open to doctors and to graduates/professionals from a background other than medicine who can demonstrate the essential competences/experience to enter training.
Candidates should note that different NHS Boards have different arrangements and payment supplements for on-call duty and although there is an expectation that Registrars will obtain some out-of-hours experience during their training, on-call payments cannot be guaranteed.
Applications for the 2013 recruitment will open 16th November 2012
The 2013 recruitment round will begin on 2nd November 2012.
The timetable is as follows:
- Advert: 2nd November 2012
- Applications open: Midday – 16th November 2012
- Applications close: Midday – 30th November 2012
- Medical applicants should note that applications close a full week before other medical specialties
- Eligibility checks: 3rd – 18th December 2012
- Invitations to written tests: 20th December 2012
- Assessment Centres: 7th January 2013
- Selection Centre: w/b 11th February 2013
- All first offers will be made by 1st March 2013
Written assessments will be conducted on line in various approved testing centres throughout the UK and Europe(a full list of locations will be available in due course). Applicants will have some choice of locations. Assessment sittings will be held only on January 7th. Candidates will be given an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the testing systems before timed tests start.
Applicants will be required to evidence their identity before taking the tests and will be given an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the testing systems before timed tests start
Applicants should be aware that a cancellation charge may be incurred if they fail to attend a booked assessment
Deanery Administrative Contacts
NameMr Andrew Brown
AddressPGTS Department, The Lister, 11 Hill Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9DR
Tel0131 650 8108
Quality of Training
GMC Trainee Survey Information (2012)