Trainees coming to the East of England can expect to receive the very best training in the U.K. We aim to deliver high standards yet tailor the training to individual needs. From our week long free induction course, through teaching days, simulation training and exam preparation, we seamlessly look after clinical and surgical curriculum delivery. Trainees are encouraged to develop skills in research, teaching, management, presentation and leadership. We have a trainee passport that follows the trainee through their training, to help guide training needs, ensuring no gaps in training occur. We develop successful trainees yet support those who find it harder with equal measure, with the help of our professional support and well-being (PSW). Our trainees pass onto excellent world leading fellowships and successfully appointed into consultant posts, often within the region. For us training is a passion and a pleasure and we look forward to welcoming you to our region and helping you to achieve excellence in an enjoyable and supportive environment.
Click on the links above for further information.
Ophthalmology Training in the U.K.
Since August 2007, specialist training in Ophthalmology has been unified into a 7 year run-through programme, otherwise known as ophthalmic specialist training (OST). The Royal College of Ophthalmologists have developed the curriculum for this programme and is based around 179 learning outcomes. Comprehensive details on the curriculum are available on The Royal College of Ophthalmologists website.
The Training Programme Director (TPD) co-ordinates the individual training rotation for a trainee. Every endeavour is made to devise the rotations geographically, so that an individual trainee does not have to move too often during their seven year programme.
All units offer basic training in Ophthalmology and most units offer some degree of sub-specialist training. In the first two years, all trainees have to pass the FRCOphth Part I exam and at the same time succeed in their Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP assessment). By the end of year 3, trainees are required to obtain their Refraction Certificate. In years 4 and 5, trainees are placed in Units which provide opportunities to experience sub-specialist training, in the hope that at their Year 4 ARCP, they will be able to inform the TPD of a potential Trainee Selected Component (TSC) that they may wish to perform during either Year 6 or 7.
In Year 5, trainees should work towards theor Part 2 exam and collecting most of their learning outcomes, thereby allowing them sufficient time to prepare for the Exit Exam and perform a 12 month TSC during Year 6 or 7 whilst in either Addenbrooke’s or Norfolk and Norwich Teaching Hospitals. Research opportunities are offered in the latter years of training, whilst there is the possibility to take time out of program (OOPR) to perform an MD Res or PhD typically after year 2-3 or after finishing Part 2 examination. The East of England Deanery is keen to offer trainees the opportunity to develop their own teaching and educational skills and the possibility to obtain a PG Cert in Medical Education is available.
The training program is devised such that all trainees should be able to obtain a 12 month TSC within the Region. If this is not possible, trainees may elect to obtain this experience elsewhere (OOPT) and trainees who take maternity leave are welcome to rejoin the program as less than full time trainees (LTFT). At the end of Year 7 it is envisaged that all trainees will achieve a successful ARCP and be nominated to the GMC for the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT). All trainees are offered a six month period of grace following their seven years on the training program to allow them to obtain a substantive Consultant appointment.