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  6. Kent, Surrey & Sussex Deanery

The Kent, Surrey & Sussex region (formerly known as South East Coast) was originally the first line of defence against invasion across the English Channel, and has now become one of the busiest and most densely-populated areas of the UK, with 8% of the population living here.

The KSS training programme in urology is one of the most popular in the country, providing general urological training over a wide and varied geographical area. It has been designed to deliver your Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) and prepare you for independent Consultant practice.

Email Mark Yao (BSoT rep for the region)   or   Follow the KSS Group on X (formerly Twitter)

Training Units

There are 20 trainee posts, in the three main regions of the Deanery (West, East & South Coast), shown below:

Area Hospital
West
  		 Ashford & St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey
Frimley Park Hospital, Camberley
Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford
Basingstoke Hospital
East Kent & Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury
East Surrey Hospital, Redhill
Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford
Maidstone Hospital
Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham
South Coast Eastbourne District General Hospital
Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton
Worthing Hospital
Email the TPD, Mr Steve Garnett (Eastbourne District Hospital)

Training Programme

Urology training in the KSS Deanery is provided across the wide region of the counties Kent, Surrey and Sussex. We are fortunate enough to have access to some excellent training trusts offering a variety of exposure to sub-specialty interests. Brighton also has the advantage of being a teaching hospital, associated with Brighton and Sussex Medical School, as well as having a specialist paediatric hospital, The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital.

The majority of hospitals in the deanery offer paediatric urology exposure, either through visiting consultants or from the adult urologists at individual Trusts. For tertiary-level, specialist paediatric urology experience, trainees can attend clinics and lists at The Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital whilst at Brighton.

Pelvic oncology is based at Eastbourne District General Hospital, The Royal Surrey County Hospital (Guildford), Medway Maritime Hospital, and Kent & Canterbury NHS Trust. Eastbourne District General Hospital also offers experience in major female reconstruction. There is excellent exposure to core urology throughout the deanery, and most registrars quickly complete their indicative numbers in these areas.

The deanery is roughly split into three areas; West, East & South Coast (see table above). Priority is given to more senior registrars when posts are allocated, so there can be some movement between geographical areas, but most trainees are usually happy. 

The trainees in KSS are very social and, due to the frequency of our teaching events, we meet up regularly and have a mentorship program linking a junior trainee with a senior trainee. Out of programme experiences for research have been encouraged, with one of our current trainees undertaking a PhD at The Royal Marsden. There are also opportunities to experience fellowships overseas after completing training, and there are links, with Urolink, via Mr Watson at Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Teaching Programme

The teaching programme is led by a group of enthusiastic trainers covering all aspects of the urology national curriculum, audit, QIPP, leadership and simulation training, and includes:

  • an annual in-service exam (MCQ) with mock "FRCS-style" vivas is held once a year;
  • excellent preparation for the FRCS examination (recent Gold Medal winners are alumni from this programme);
  • a prestigious annual audit prize, contested among KSS trainees.

Training days are always held on a Friday, and are mandatory. We also utilise the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) Urology Days, at which KSS trainees have free access. The ARCPs are in February (interim) and July (final)

A South Thames Regional Meeting, in conjunction with London South, takes place twice yearly at various venues south of the Thames.

South Thames Regional Meeting pages

Research and Audit

Trainees in KSS have opportunities to get involved in audit research through the University of Surrey whilst at Guildford, where there is a strong background in prostate and bladder cancer research.

There are research opportunities available throught the East of the region via the newly-established Kent & Medway Medical School.

Research and audit projects conducted through KSS have been presented at the South Thames Meeting, and our trainees have been recipients of the top prizes on many occasions.

The Bottom Line

The KSS deanery is close to London, with excellent motorway, rail and airport facilities, and a number of ferry services. Channel Tunnel rail links ensure that the rest of Europe is also very close.

Outstanding communications combine with real quality of life, with easy access to the capital and exciting provincial towns, including Brighton, Chichester, Canterbury, Tunbridge Wells and Guildford, and beautiful rural and coastal settings, which give an attractive range of choices to any trainee.

You'll find that this is one of the most "social" training programmes in the country with a terrific spirit of teaching, socialising and mutual support that has evolved over recent years.

Contacts, hospitals & administrative information for KSS

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