Download Clinical Genetics - NHS Education for Scotland

Specialty: Clinical Genetics
PMETB: WOS/SRT/392
NES:
WoS/D4/A3/1
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:
National

Specialty or Sub-specialty:
Specialty
Date of PMETB/GMC recent approval:
2009
Associated Royal College / Faculty
Royal College of Physicians
Web address
www.rcplondon.ac.uk/
Curriculum
http://www.jrcptb.org.uk/specialties/ST3-SpR/Pages/Clinical-Genetics.aspx
Associated Assessment System
(same link works for associated assessment system)
Date programme information last updated
September 2012
Programme Locations and Environments
This programme involves placements in some or all of these Health Boards and hospitals:
All trainees are expected to gain experience through working in a minimum of two training centres during the course of their
training. This could be undertaken by rotating between the centres and be subject to approval of the training centres and
respective Health Boards. Alternatively, trainees can be based in a single centre but spend a minimum of one year working
in other centres on subspecialty modules. (see 3a below for further details)
Training Centres
Department of Clinical Genetics, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh
Department of Clinical Genetics, Yorkhill Hospitals, Glasgow,
Deaprtment of Clinical Genetics, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen
Maximum Approved Training Capacity: There are a total of 7 training posts in the programme
(this figure represents the maximum number of approved training slots across the whole programme and may be
greater than the number of funded or occupied slots)
Programme Director
Contact
MMC Building
Western General Hospital
Crewe Road
Edinburgh, EH4 2UX
Dr Wayne Lam
Tel: 0131 537 1061
E mail: [email protected]
Deanery Administrative Contacts
Name
Hazel Stone
Address
NES, 2 Central Quay, 89 Hydepark Street, Glasgow G3 8BW
Tel
0141 223 1440
Email
[email protected]
Specialty: Clinical Genetics
PMETB: WOS/SRT/392
NES:
WoS/D4/A3/1
Programme Description
1 a. What particular specialty learning opportunities has this program provided e.g. sub-specialty exposure,
especially those which are not available elsewhere?
Whilst Scottish Genetic Centres are generally smaller than their English counterparts, the training programme is
designed to ensure that trainees have access to a wide range of genetic conditions and clinical practice. The four
Scottish Genetic Centres are closely linked through the Scottish Clinical Genetics Forum, which meets three times a
year, and addresses a wide range of clinical and strategic issues affecting the specialty. Trainees are expected to
play a full part in the Forum working groups, working with different consultants, genetic counselors and specialist
nurses.
Scotland has a structured approach to cardiac and cancer genetics through clinical networks and there is close
collaboration between centres and with other specialties. Although the National Health Service is devolved in
Scotland, the Scottish Training Programme is closely linked with other UK training programmes and previous trainees
from the Scottish programme are currently working as Consultants in England, Europe and Asia.
There is a full range of subspecialty clinics, joint specialty clinics and MDT meetings that the trainee is expected to
participate in, (for example Neuromuscular genetics Cardiac genetics, Craniofacial genetics, Marfan syndrome,
Skeletal dysplasia, Foetal pathology and Foetal medicine and Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis).
Genetic laboratory services are run on a nationally funded consortium model and there are very close links between
the labs and the clinical services. Trainees on the Scottish programme have the opportunity to follow complex cases
through the laboratory.
b. How do trainees access these opportunities?
Exposure to the subspecialty programmes occurs throughout training and there is increasing exposure to the more
complex areas of clinical genetic as training progresses. Assignments are made by the Programme Director who is
guided by the needs of the individual trainees and advice of Education Supervisors.
2 a. What opportunities are there for research, audit and teaching?
All training centres are based in teaching hospitals with medical schools, there are ample opportunity for trainees to
develop their teaching skills in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes. Some trainees have taken
the opportunity to pursue formal teaching qualifications. Completion of audit projects is mandatory during training.
There are opportunities for involvement in clinical trials, full time research for either MD or PhD.
It is very common for at least one trainee to be on Out of Programme on Research (OOPR).
b. How do trainees access these opportunities?
These are usually in discussion with their Educational Supervisor and Academic Fellows within the training centre.
3 a. How are rotations on hospital sites organised?
For trainees wishing to rotate between training centres. The current rotations are possible, subject to local availability
at time of application.
Aberdeen to Glasgow or Edinburgh (2years + 2years)
Edinburgh to Glasgow (2years + 2years)
Edinburgh to Dundee (3years + 1year)
Specialty: Clinical Genetics
PMETB: WOS/SRT/392
NES:
WoS/D4/A3/1
For trainees wishing to be based at a single centre, it is expected that they will undertake subspecialty modules at the
other training centres spending a total of one year whole time (or part-time equivalent) training away from their base
centre.
b. Which hospitals are involved?
All the primary training centres:
Western General Hospital, Edinburgh
Southern General Hospital, Glasgow,
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen
There will be opportunity to rotate to Ninewells Hospital, dependent on training opportunities.
c. What degree of choice is there for trainees?
Rotation and exposure to other training centres is predominantly driven by the trainee and the subspecialty training
opportunities that are available. Trainees in the Scottish training programme are genuinely seen as supernumerary
and therefore have considerable opportunities to design a programme encompassing their particular interests in
agreement with their Educational Supervisor and TPD. Ultimately, the decision rests with the TPD and the specialty
training committee.
4. What teaching (e.g. day-release or exam preparation) or learning opportunities (e.g. e-learning, OOPE), are
unique to this post?
This is a national training programme and unique training opportunities in individual training centres are available to
all Scottish trainees, irrespective of their principal training centre. For example the MRC Human Genetics Unit in
Edinburgh offers a comprehensive seminar programme; access to the PhD training programme is also offered to all
trainees contemplating OOP research.
As well as the above-mentioned Scottish Genetics Forum Meetings, there are monthly departmental teaching
sessions and national (Scottish) dysmorphology meetings, which are delivered by video conferencing which is
available in each centre. There is also a trainee teaching programme, delivered by consultants from across Scotland
in which trainees can participate via video conferencing,
5. What can trainees expect of their trainers in this post?
All the consultants in Scotland are well aware that having a trainee is a privilege rather than a right and are
enthusiastic about training the next generation of Clinical Geneticists. Trainers are all appropriately trained to fulfill
the function of clinical or educational supervisor and the trainee can expect timely workplace based assessments and
regular supervision to ensure that they get the most from the many learning opportunities available.
Trainees interested in pursuing a higher degree will be encouraged and supported to find an appropriate project and
funding. There are close links between the training programme and academic centres of excellence in all centres.
6. What are key markers of success? (e.g. exam pass rates. MD, PhD, papers)
Trainees are expected to pass the Specialty specific examination in Clinical Genetics which will be administered by
the College of Pathologists from 2012 prior to obtaining their CCT. It is also expected that all trainees will have
published at least 2 papers during the time spent in programme and a proportion would be expected to obtain a
higher degree.
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 national training programme of Scotland offers an ideal training environment in a particularly beautiful part of the
Specialty: Clinical Genetics
PMETB: WOS/SRT/392
NES:
WoS/D4/A3/1
UK. The four training centres have had many years experience in close collaborative working and allows trainees
access to all the training opportunities right across Scotland.
The size of the Scottish population and its ethnic diversity ensures the full spectrum of genetic conditions presents
itself to each trainee and the quality of the training programme is closely monitored by the Training Programme
Director and the Scottish Training Committee.
General Job Description
8. Clinical Experience
The posts offer a wide range of experience in general, paediatric and cancer genetics as well as exposure to the
molecular and cytogenetic service laboratories. The post is recognised for higher Specialist training in Clinical
Genetics by The Royal College of Physicians.
As well as participating in general genetic clinics the Specialist Registrar will be attached for blocks of time to
paediatric genetics and dysmorphology, the prenatal diagnosis clinic, cancer genetic clinics run in conjunction with
specialists from breast surgery, colorectal surgery and gynaeocology as well as paediatric and adult neurogenetics,
skeletal dysplasias and single disease clinics (Marfan syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis and Neurofibromatosis). The
four-year training programme will mirror the curriculum laid down by the JRCPTB in Clinical Genetics.
9. Training
The Trainee will be expected to participate in organisation and delivery of Clinical Genetics services, including
appropriate participation in academic and administrative activities.
Year 1
General Genetics and Cancer Genetics
Year 2
General Genetics and Specialised Modules
Year 3
General Genetics and Specialised Modules (with optional training in specialised services provision such as antenatal
population screening)
Year 4
General Genetics and Special Interest Genetics