If you're looking to specialise in Urology, the East Midlands is the perfect place to train. When you come to the region, you'll benefit from varied experiences at some of the UK's leading facilities as well as some excellent research opportunities.
The geography of the region means that it's easy to commute between your various placements and, with London and Birmingham just over an hour away, the East Midlands is also convenient for the rest of the UK.
Email Zaid Mera (BSoT rep)
Training Units
In the East Midlands, you'll join an excellent, well-rounded programme of urological training in the units below:
| TEACHING HOSPITALS |
Leicester General Hospital
A tertiary referral centre for urological oncology, including penile cancer, with opportunities to train in robotic surgery, open surgery (including bladder reconstruction & RPLND), female urology and genitourethral reconstruction, alongside more general urological surgery / diagnostics (use the link below to email Jaskam Rai, TPD); |
Nottingham City Hospital
A regional referral centre for general and sub-specialist urology, including robotic surgery, regional incontinence services, endourology (including mini PCNL & on-site lithotripsy) and andrology (including penile implants & cancer service). |
Royal Derby Hospital
A unit with services including robotic surgery, oncology (with one of the highest-volume nephrectomists in the UK), endourology (including PCNL) and a range of general urology / day case services. |
| DISTRICT GENERAL HOSPITALS |
-
Kettering General Hospital
-
King's Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield
-
Lincoln County Hospital
-
Northampton General Hospital
-
Queen's Hospital, Burton-on-Trent
Email the Training Programme Director
East Midlands Deanery website
|
Training Programme
Within the region you will find a well-rounded training programme throughout three large teaching hospitals and four district general hospitals. You should expect to rotate through all the teaching hospitals (at least once) and at least two of the DGHs, usually during the first one to three years of your training programme.
Our DGH units all offer excellent general urological experience and, having great relevance to training requirements, King's Mill Hospital and Northampton offer dedicated paediatric lists and clinics on a weekly basis. Alongside this, trainees placed in a teaching hospital will have two dedicated paediatric weeks (at either Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham or Leicester Royal Infirmary) each year and the opportunity to attend a weekly paediatric MDT, pending other clinical commitments.
Trainees within the region have regularly been appointed to fellowships, both nationally and internationally, with strongly-established links to Australia (Perth, Sydney & Melbourne).
Teaching Programme
In the East Midlands deanery, we are able to draw on the sub-speciality experience of many of our local consultants, and we have had some excellent external speakers at our regional teaching days.
Our teaching programme follows the FRCS Urology curriculum, with the aim of covering all topics over a two-year cycle; it is delivered as an all-day teaching session, outside the hospital setting, once each month. We also have an annual Simulation Day to cover urological emergencies in a "real life" setting, one informal & one formal viva practice da,y and free access to Deanery-run leadership and management courses as well as a Training the Trainers course, designed to meet CCT requirements.
Each September, we hold the annual East Midlands Urological Society (EMUS) meeting, giving all trainees the opportunity to present their research or audit work, and to enjoy a day featuring both regional and national speakers, followed by an update from the current BAUS President.
View the EMUS pages
Research Opportunities
Many of our units offer the opportunity for trainees to undertake in-house research, as part of an OOPE (out-of-programme experience), through the University of Nottingham and the University of Leicester, supported by our local academic urologists.
All trainees will be encouraged and supported in producing at least two publications during their training programme, to meet CCT requirements.
The Bottom Line
The East Midlands is a fantastic place to train in urology and benefits from a varied experience across some of the UK’s leading facilities.
Geographically we are positioned beneath the Peak District and Derbyshire Dales, affording ample opportunities to get out and enjoy the countryside, or pursue outdoor sports such as cycling, white water kayaking and climbing, all of which many trainees have experienced. We are within easy commuting distance of both London (1hr 20m) and Birmingham (1hr), whilst enjoying easy access to the rest of the UK and the North.
Average house prices here are around 60% lower than in London and, generally, most trainees can commute to all the training hospitals from one location, so you are usually able to buy a house (and stay there!); this is an advantage if you have a family, since there is no disruption to schooling etc.
You can enjoy a range of local historical attractions including the Richard III Visitor’s Centre, Lincoln Cathedral (featured in many films, including Harry Potter, and (pictured above) Wollaton Hall and Deer Park in Nottingham (featured in The Batman Movie), Nottingham Castle, Sherwood Forest, the oldest oak tree in the UK, and Isaac Newton's house.
Our university cities are vibrant and diverse, with opportunities to enjoy cultural celebrations - Leicester features the biggest Diwali celebrations outside India, and the steepest street in Britain, as well as fantastic comedy, film, theatre and dance festivals. For those with an interest in sport, you can enjoy test match cricket at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Premier League football, Premiership rugby union, ice hockey (Nottingham Panthers), horse riding (Burghley Horse Trials), and the National Watersports Centre at Holme Pierre Point.
Contacts & admin info for East Midlands