Programme Information

Trainees will be allocated to an education provider within Health Education Wessex which are appropriate for their own educational needs, or in line with the job description as advertised. Trainees are expected to rotate to any of the education providers if it is in their best educational needs.

The primary aim of all posts is that there is a region wide syllabus and minimum standards of education agreed by all education providers within the rotation.

Health Education Wessex is committed to developing postgraduate training programmes as laid down by GMC, Colleges and Faculties and by COPMED – the Postgraduate Deans Network. At local level college/specialty tutors work with the Programme Director and Directors of Medical Education in supervising these programmes. Trainees will be expected to take part in these programmes (including audit) and to attend meetings with their nominated educational supervisor.

All posts within the training programme are recognised for postgraduate training by the General Medical Council (GMC) in accordance with their standards for training.

Study leave is granted in accordance with Health Education Wessex and employer policy and are subject to the maintenance of the service.

All posts have a service element and the following covers the majority of duties.

There will be minor variations in different hospitals but the list is aimed at covering the majority of duties:

1) Learn mostly by observation and supervised practice, supplemented by self-directed reading. Daily case discussions with the consultants are encouraged and throughout your training you’ll be expected to put acquired knowledge and training into practice, investigating both outpatients and inpatients. Knowledge and training is assessed continuously by means of Mini-CEX and DOPS.

2) The training and experience you want can be gained in a variety of ways, depending on your needs. There are opportunities to work as the neurology ward registrar and the hospital neurology liaison registrar.

3) You can also attend any neurology clinics that you feel are of benefit and there is also a weekly neurology teaching session, which neurophysiologists often attend.

All posts will provide training in line with the Joint Royal College of Physicians Training Board agreed curriculum for training in Clinical Neurophysiology.

There is a monthly paediatric EEG meeting and a monthly neonatal EEG meeting with the paediatric neurologists, which fosters sharing of knowledge. There is also a monthly Wessex-wide neurophysiology training meeting, which rotates around the neurophysiology departments, providing an opportunity for training from consultants beyond Southampton.

There is also a weekly neurology teaching session which neurophysiologists often attend.

University Hospital Southampton

At Wessex Neurological Centre in Southampton you will be trained in almost the entire range of neurophysiological investigations – EEG, ambulatory EEG, videotelemetry, EMG, single-fibre EMG, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, evoked potential studies and Intraoperative monitoring for spinal surgeries. This will include experience in both paediatric and adult cases.

There are five neurophysiology consultants who are keen to share their knowledge in an environment that you will find is very supportive of trainees. We encourage trainees to get involved in the educational activities at the centre – including, for example, presenting cases at MDT meetings.

You’ll learn mostly by observation and supervised practice, supplemented by self-directed reading. Daily case discussions with the consultants are encouraged and throughout your training you’ll be expected to put acquired knowledge and training into practice, investigating both outpatients and inpatients. Knowledge and training is assessed continuously by means of Mini-CEX and DOPS.

The training and experience you want can be gained in a variety of ways, depending on your needs. There are opportunities to work as the neurology ward registrar and the hospital neurology liaison registrar. You can also attend any neurology clinics that you feel are of benefit and there is also a weekly neurology teaching session, which neurophysiologists often attend.

There is an excellent and fruitful relationship between the neurophysiologists and the adult and paediatric neurologists. There is a monthly paediatric EEG meeting and a monthly neonatal EEG meeting with the paediatric neurologists, which fosters sharing of knowledge.

There is also a monthly Wessex-wide neurophysiology training meeting, which rotates around the neurophysiology departments, providing an opportunity for training from consultants beyond Southampton.

We encourage you to and will be supportive if you wish to gain other relevant experience. This could be undertaking a period of research or specialist clinical experience, whether it be with Wessex or elsewhere. Trainees are supernumerary so time is always found for such activities, within the boundaries of what is allowed and feasible during the specialty training programme.

Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth

The training here mirrors that of which is provided in Southampton, with the exception of EEG video-telemetry and intraoperative monitoring. There are three Consultant Clinical Neurophysiologists who provide comprehensive teaching and training. Trainees will have the opportunity to rotate to Southampton for the specialist modules that are not available at Portsmouth

The posts are whole-time and the appointments are subject to:

The Terms and Conditions of Service for NHS Doctors and Dentists in Training (England).

Satisfactory registration with the General Medical Council.

Right to work in the UK.

Criminal Records Check/POCA check carried out by the Trust Medical HR department.

Pre-employment checks carried out by the Medical HR department