Key Contacts
Training Programme Director for Cardiology: Dr David Sarkar (Based at Derriford Hospital)
Head of School of Medicine: Dr Kathy Woolson
Deputy Dean for Medicine: Dr Jon Francis
Education programme Manager: Naomi Mallinson
NHS England, South West (Peninsula) supervises all postgraduate medical specialist training in the Devon and Cornwall region for Cardiology.
Information about the Specialty
Cardiology dual accredits with Internal medicine Stage 2 (IM Stage2) was General Internal Medicine.
The South West Peninsula Deanery offers a five year Specialty Training program in Cardiology. This comprises ST4-ST6 years, during which core cardiology competencies are achieved and ST7 & ST8 years which are spent in subspecialty training. Subspecialty training is available in PCI, EP, devices, CT, CMR, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, heart failure and general medicine.
Trainees gain exposure to ACHD through specialist clinics and training days but there is not currently the facility to offer subspecialty training in ACHD in the Peninsula. Typically trainees will spend two years at the South West Cardiothoracic Centre in Derriford Hospital, and this is usually in the latter stages of their training. This provides exposure to cardiac surgery in addition to many of the subspecialty training modules. The remaining three years of training will typically be spent in three of the other four cardiology centres in the Peninsula; The Royal Devon & Exeter (RD&E) hospital, The Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro (RCHT), North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple (NDDH) and Torbay Hospital in Torquay (TBH). In addition to the core cardiology curriculum, training in PCI is available in RD&E, RCHT and TBH, both RD&E and RCHT have established EP and device programmes and there is a cardiac MR service at the RD&E. Out Of Programme Experience (OOPE) to undertake research or gain additional skills is encouraged.
Annual Assessment Information
Trainees undertaking Higher Specialist Training are required to have an annual assessment (ARCP). By clicking on the your specialty you will find the requirements for your assessment. The checklists are by no means exhaustive and it is advised that you communicate with your Training Programme Director or Educational Supervisor for more detailed requirement information once you have been scheduled for an assessment Please use these checklists as a guide when preparing for your assessment. Its is your responsibility to check what is expected of you and prepare accordingly. The JRCPTB website is an invaluable source of assessment information.
The Training Hospitals
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust