Welcome to the training programme in Gastroenterology and General (Internal) Medicine. We aim to provide useful information to potential future and current Gastroenterology SpeciatyTrainees, Gastroenterology Trainers, and all others interested in the Gastroenterology training opportunities in HEE NE. We hope you will find this website a useful resource.
Training Programme Director: Dr David Oliver
School Manager: Mr Steve Hamnett
Specialty Programme Coordinator: Ella Costello
For HR related queries please contact: Allyson Ashwell 0191 275 4753 / Christian Collins 0191 275 4783
Why choose gastroenterology?
Gastroenterology is an exciting, challenging and varied specialty, providing a rewarding mix of thinking, doing and communicating. It is a truly multidisciplinary specialty requiring liaison with surgery, interventional radiology, oncology, dietetics, ITU, acute medicine and tertiary referral units.
Despite attempts to reduce training numbers in all specialties, gastroenterology has been relatively protected in recent years due to the introduction of the 18 week target and bowel cancer screening which have led to a preservation of training numbers.
The programme offers a wide variety of sub-specialties and special interest training including hepatology, transplant medicine, nutrition, inflammatory bowel disease, therapeutic & advanced endoscopy, pancreatobiliary and ERCP & functional bowel disease.
There are opportunities to develop an interest in academic research or in training.
As a trainee what can I expect from my training programme?
All trainees spend one year at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, with 6 months of this on the Liver Transplant Unit. The remainder of the training consists of one-year rotational posts throughout hospitals in the North East from Carlisle to Middlesborough, dependent on your training needs.
Training in gastroenterology is by the nature of the specialty very varied. You will receive training in general gastroenterology with additional specialist training in hepatology and nutrition. All trainees will be trained in gastroscopy and colonoscopy. You may also choose a specialist training module in advanced endoscopy or inflammatory bowel disease.
We have a dedicated and committed group of trainers and we strive to continually improve the quality of training in gastroenterology. We monitor training standards at each unit and respond and deal with trainees’ concerns promptly.
The Freeman Hospital is one of only 8 Liver Transplant Units in the UK. The region hosts one of the JAG approved endoscopy training centres in the UK providing courses in diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy at the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton.
Current vacancy information (links to HEE website recruitment page)
To find out more about our region and Trusts please visit the Find Your Place website.