Training Programme Director  - Dr Matt Bates

Programme Support Officer - gillian.conway@nhs.net

People Services Officers, Lead Employer Trust - Allyson Ashwell/Christian Collins 

For Lead Employer Trust queries please use the generic email address:-   nhc-tr.letmedicine@nhs.net

Lead  Employer Trust Help desk number 01912754782

Cardiology is a five-year training programme that offers comprehensive training opportunities in all aspects of cardiology. At appointment, all trainees are assumed to be dual accrediting in Cardiology and General (Internal) Medicine, but can ask later for accreditation in Cardiology alone, subject to discussion with the Programme Director.

Training is provided through various posts in general hospitals and the two specialist training centres: Freeman Hospital (Newcastle) and James Cook University Hospital (Teesside). There will be a variety of experiences to be have on placements with the Freeman being the base for paediatric cardiology and adult and paediatric Transplant Services as well as cardiac surgery is performed at both the Freeman Hospital and James Cook University Hospital.

All district hospitals in the programme have a minimum of two full-time consultant cardiologists on site in addition to undertaking diagnostic cardiac catheterisation non-invasive test facilities and pacemaker implants for their local populations. Many also have nuclear cardiac imaging and/or magnetic resonance or CT-imaging facilities.

There are currently 36 educationally approved posts on the training programme:

• 9 at James Cook University Hospital (Specialist Centre)
• 11 at the Freeman Hospital (Specialist Centre)
• 2 at the Royal Victoria Infirmary
• 2 at the Cumberland Infirmary
• 2 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital
• 2 at South Tyneside District Hospital
• 2 at Sunderland Royal Hospital
• 1 at the District Hospitals of Darlington
• 1 at the Friarage Hospital
• 1 at North Tyneside General Hospital
• 1 at Wansbeck General Hospital
• 1 at University Hospital of North Durham
• 1 at The University Hospital of North Tees

Subject to stage of training, specialist registrars typically spend 12-24 months in district hospitals initially followed by broad based cardiology exposure at a specialist centre. During the last two years of training, opportunities are available to undertake the sub-specialty training in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Cardiac electrophysiology and Device therapy or Cardiac Imaging, but this may be subject to competitive selection. Progression from year to year of training is dependent on demonstrating evidence of satisfactory progress at an annual formal Annual Review of Competence and Progression (ARCP).

There are active post-graduate education centres at each hospital, offering a range of weekly educational meetings, library and electronic database access. In addition, Cardiology trainees are required to attend a minimum of 70% of the specific training sessions, both in cardiology and general medicine during their training.

Trainees are also encouraged to be research-active throughout their training and to undertake a formal period of research, subject to securing appropriate research funding

To find out more information about current vacancies please view the National Recruitment Website

To find out more about our region and Trusts please visit the Find Your Place website.