Your earlier years of HST will be focused on gaining general exposure to obstetrics and gynaecology under appropriate supervision. More hands-on experience will come as your confidence grows and you will be encouraged to take on a greater degree of responsibility and independence.
Your HST programme will incorporate the following core elements:
- Exposure to obstetrics and gynaecology practice in a variety of settings, including standalone maternity hospitals and academic teaching hospitals, both voluntary and HSE
- Exposure to gynaecology in a variety of hospital settings
Your first three years of HST will be spent in full-time clinical SpR posts in hospital hubs in Ireland. These hubs are largely regional based. Allocations to hubs will be randomly allocated to trainees who are successful at interview.
You must complete the first three years on the programme in your allocated hub. If at any time you take leave in the first three year from the programme, you will continue on your planned rotations and return to the rotations missed in the same clinical site or similiar site in the same hub. Allocations are at the discretion of the National Specialty Directors who are the ultimate decision makers for allocations.
After completing three years in your clinical training, you can apply for up to 12 months’ credit towards your Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST) for a research or clinical post out of programme, should you wish to undertake this type of post. Once your OPCE application is approved you will be asked to meet certain criteria to be awarded your 12 months’ credit. Criteria information is found in the HST Handbook.
During the final two years of SpR posts, if you do not go on OCPE, you will be asked to rank your choices of clinical Hospital sites suitable for you. Allocations are at the discretion of the National Speciality Directors and who are the ultimate decisions makers for allocations.
We will endeavour to be as flexible as possible, within the confines of your training requirements in O&G, to allow you to develop a special or subspecialty interest.
You can choose one of the following special interest modules in your fourth or fifth year of HST:
- Gynaecology
- Maternal medicine
- Urogynaecology/urodynamics
- Labour ward
Finally, you will be required to complete your final six months of training on the HST Scheme in a full-time clinical post in Ireland.
In addition to supervised clinical training in the hospital, you will attend a number of mandatory courses and study days. These are designed to help you develop professionally and acquire the non-clinical skills and knowledge needed to provide excellent patient care.