Key Contacts
Training Programme Director for Neurology: Dr Alex Shah (Based at Derriford Hospital)
(Interim) 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 Neurology& IM stage 2 training.
Information about the Specialty
This programme provides comprehensive high quality Neurology training in a five-year programme.
The hospitals included on this rotation are University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP, Derriford, Plymouth), Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (RD&E, Exeter) and Royal Cornwall Hospital (RCH, Truro) and Torbay (South Devon healthcare).
UHP is the hub of the rotation and the regional neuroscience centre. It is a GIRFT exemplar site for acute neurology and the regional thrombectomy site for stroke. The region has a proven track record of innovative high-quality care across many neurological domains. In the last 5 years clinical teams across the region have won or been finalists in Parkinson’s UK National Excellence Awards (2019 and 2017), Best Acute Service Redesign HSJ Awards (2018), Motor neurone disease care HSJ Awards (2017) and Patient Safety HSJ Awards (2015).
A typical rotation will comprise 3-4 years at Plymouth and 1-2 years at Truro and/or Exeter/ Torbay
As we have long excelled at acute neurology and have close integration with our GIM and acute medicine colleagues, the requirements of Shape of Training GIM experience will not alter or disrupt the Peninsula neurology training programme as much as may happen elsewhere.
There are 10 clinical neurologists and 3 academic neurologists at UHP, 8 neurologists at RD&E and 3 at RCH and a full range of subspecialty experience is offered. There is also opportunity to gain additional subspecialist training outside of the region depending on career plans. Our academic colleagues based at the Plymouth Medical School (on the UHP site) offer research projects and can provide advice and opportunities for those wanting to pursue academic and research interests. There are opportunities for trainees to embark on research to MD or PhD level within the peninsula.
There is a full programme of regional training days in addition to a weekly neuroscience meeting, supra-regional CPD meetings and time for personal study. The RD&E team organises national WESAN meeting and providing training to European Academy of Neurology (EAN) clinical fellows.
The rotation is known for the depth of clinical experience that trainees gain, equipping them well for the role of a consultant neurologist in today’s NHS.
Annual Assessment Information
Trainees undertaking Higher Specialist Training are required to have an annual assessment (ARCP). Details of these assessments can be found within the assessment pages. 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
Related Sites