The Neurology Training Programme is part of the School of Medicine.

The Training Programme Director is Dr Kate Petheram

Programme Support Officer Gillian Conway 

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

Why choose Neurology?

The specialty of neurology is changing rapidly. Traditionally, neurology had been thought of as an intellectual pursuit, concerned with the diagnosis of rare conditions of the nervous system with relatively little time devoted to the care of the patient and their family.

However, the advent of accessible non-invasive imaging, and the development of new treatments, has led to neurologists' involvement with the treatment and on-going care of patients with disorders which are in fact very common, such as stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.

There are plenty of opportunities for research, and many trainees will undertake a period of research towards a higher degree as part of their neurological training (as an out-of-programme experience) completing an MD or PhD.

There has recently been a rapid increase in the number of consultant neurologists and it is likely that new posts will continue to be developed (even in spite of the current NHS financial climate, such is the demand for specialist neurological care).

As a trainee what can I expect from my training programme?

Neurology cuts across a number of different groupings, (for example, muscular dystrophy and the Institute for Human Genetics, or the Institute for Ageing and Health), but Newcastle biomedicine / neuro unites these strands and highlights the strength and depth of neurological medicine, research and training in the North East.

You will receive core training at the Regional Neurosciences Centre in Newcastle, as well as spending time at neurology units at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and the Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Neurology in the North East, and the Department of Neurology in Newcastle, is outstanding and world renowned. Some of the most important discoveries in neurology have been made here and many notable neurologists trained here.

We have a vision and strategy to build further on this legacy, achieving excellence in research and service provision. Identifying talented and ambitious neurology trainees is central to our approach – something we are able to do through a solid academic and clinical base embedded in a rich research infrastructure which includes the key platforms that are essential for groundbreaking research

What our trainees say:

The region has a great mix of hospitals and offers excellent clinical experience and research opportunities, particularly in neurological and ageing research.

There is a great mix of teaching hospital and DGH experience. You won’t know now where you will want to end up and seeing a good mix of both types of medicine is great. There tends to be a good balance between service and training and with some top-flight experts locally, the opportunities for small-scale and large-scale research are excellent.

I’m part of the multi-disciplinary team (nurses, physios, OTs, speech therapists, doctors) and see a vast array of neurological conditions. We look after Parkinson’s, dystonia, tremor disorders, Tourette’s syndrome and a whole host of other problems and I learn something new every single week. I am coming to the end of my research project at present and am seeing the fruits of three long years of research, which is gratifying. I’ve enjoyed the research experience immensely and hope to be able to balance an on-going academic interest with clinical practice.

 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.

You will receive core training at the Regional Neurosciences Centre in Newcastle, as well as spending time at neurology units in James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and the Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Neurology in the North East, and the Department of Neurology in Newcastle, is outstanding and world renowned. Some of the most important discoveries in neurology have been made here and many notable neurologists trained here.

We have a vision and strategy to build further on this legacy, achieving excellence in research and service provision. Identifying talented and ambitious neurology trainees is central to our approach – something we are able to do through a solid academic and clinical base embedded in a rich research infrastructure which includes the key platforms that are essential for groundbreaking research