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The Scotland West training programme offers an ideal training environment in a particularly beautiful part of the UK. The programme benefits from having access to both city centre teaching hospitals and large peripheral units offering a complete range of urological training.

There are approximately 15 trainees on our programme with two additional post-CCT fellows in pelvic and upper tract oncology. The programme provides broad experience in all aspects of both core and subspecialty urology, together with an active teaching curriculum. 

Email Helen Rooney (BSoT rep)

Training Centres

Placements are for one year, with a balance between district general hospitals and Glasgow teaching hospitals that have tertiary subspecialty activity.  There are seven placement options:

Scotland West hospitals involved in the deanery rotation are:
  • Forth Valley Royal Hospital, Larbert
  • Glasgow Royal Infirmary
  • Monkland Hospital, Airdrie
  • Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow
  • Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley
  • University Hospital, Ayr (use the link below to email the TPD, Ms Holly Bekarma)

Email the TPD, Ms Holly Bekarma (University Hospital, Ayr)

Some additional activities (outpatients, day-case lists and emergencies) also take place at other sites in Glasgow (at the Royal Infirmary, the Victoria Infirmary and Stobhill Hospital).

Training Programme

Most trainees choose to base themselves in Glasgow for the duration of their training as all of the hospitals are an easy commute from the city. 

In the early years of training, you'll get exposure to core urological procedures such as endoscopic management of bladder and prostate disease, ureteroscopic management of calculi, and management of genital disease.  As you gain experience, exposure to more complex areas of urological surgery occurs, such as pelvic and renal oncology, complex endourology, female and reconstruction, andrology and retroperitoneal disease.

Within the programme there are national referral centres for retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND), spinal neuromodulation, spinal injuries and prostatic cryotherapy. There are tertiary referral centres for complex renal cancer surgery, penile cancer, urethral surgery, lower urinary tract reconstruction, robotic surgery and andrology. In addition, there are sub-specialty interests in laparoscopic surgery, endourology, pelvic oncology and female urology, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to develop a sub-specialty expertise.

The volume and nature of the pathology in the West of Scotland means that our trainees have very high operative numbers at CCT, providing an excellent foundation for their future careers.

There is no formal paediatric urology rogtation at present, but you'll be able to work with a team of four paediatric urologists in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, as well as in outreach settings.

Teaching Programme

There is an active, monthly, protected, teaching programme with a mixture of trainee-delivered and consultant-delivered sessions.  Additional link-ups with the Scotland East deanery occur for two national teaching days every year. 

The size of the programme is also ideal, which means that the TPD knows all the trainees well, and can respond quickly and effectively to any issues. 

The teaching programme includes simulation for teaching of practical skills, as well as the training in human factors and non-technical skills. The teaching programme consistently scores highly in trainee surveys, and has had a 100% pass rate in the FRCS Urol examination for many years.

You'll find well-established links to several international centres of excellence, providing great opportunities for out-of-programme (OOP) experience.

Audit and Research

You'll be encouraged (and expected) to perform audit and research, leading to publication or presentation on a national basis.  There are excellent opportunities to be involved in the formal, urology, research programme at the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, directed by Professor Hing Leung.

There are two current academic trainees in the research programme who have produced work of international quality.  

The Bottom Line

The West of Scotland offers an excellent environment to train as a urologist, providing an ideal balance between regional centres of excellence and brilliant peripheral units, not to mention the unrivalled lifestyle that the area offers.  

Glasgow is a vibrant international city with a thriving music, pub and restaurant scene combined with good international air links, not to mention unmatched access to outdoor activities on the doorstep of the city. 

Elsewhere in the region, you'll find stunningly beautiful areas, such as Loch Lomond and the Firth of Clyde, just a short distance from Glasgow. The Forth Valley section of the rotation also allows easy access to the east of Scotland, including the historic cities of Stirling and Edinburgh.

The area is great for raising families and you'll find that, on completion of their training here, the majority of trainees choose to make their homes and careers in the West of Scotland.

Contacts & admin info for Scotland West

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