Specialty: Medical Microbiology
GMC: SES451
Deanery sponsoring programme:
East of Scotland
Postgraduate Dean:
Professor William Reid
Responsible Associate Dean/GP Director:
Dr Rhiannon Pugh
Programme Type -

Deanery-based or National:
Deanery- Based

Specialty or Sub-specialty:
Specialty
Date of GMC recent approval:
August 2010
Associated Royal College / Faculty
Royal College of Pathologists
Web address
www.rcpath,org
Curriculum and Associated Assessment
System
Link
Date programme information last updated
September 2011
Recognised Programme Locations and Environments
This programme involves placements in some or all of these Health Boards and hospitals:
Laboratories within Lothian, Borders, Fife, Tayside and Aberdeenshire
Programme Director
Dr Pota Kalima
Contact
Tel: 0131 242 6048/ 6004
Western General Hospital,
Edinburgh
Programme Description
Medical Microbiology involves a varied and interesting work experience that involves laboratory-based practical work,
clinical liaison, infection control, laboratory management, health protection, research & audit.
At present, there is a joint CCT in Medical Microbiology and Virology that is awarded to trainees after completing the
5 year training programme. The programme follows the curriculum set out by the RCPath (www.rcpath.org). Year 1
involves training in both Medical Microbiology and Virology at the end of which there is an assessment (year 1).
Thereafter, the rest of training in focused mainly in Medical Microbiology. Trainees are expected to sit Part 1 of
FRCPath examination after approximately 18 months of training. The final FRCPath examination is taken after 4 - 4.5
years of training. The exam includes both written and practical components.
Training in Medical Microbiology in the “East” of Scotland is presently located in Lothian (includes rotation to one of
either Borders or Fife), Dundee and Aberdeen. DGH experience can also be gained from attachments to laboratories
served by laboratories in the region. Paediatric microbiology experience can be gained through placements at RHSC
in Edinburgh and in the main teaching hospitals in North and East Scotland.
Training opportunities in reference laboratories including mycobacterial infections, the Scottish E coli O157 reference
lab and the Scottish laboratory for sexually-transmitted bacterial infections. Trainees also get opportunities to gain
experience in other national reference laboratories.
Formal rotation programmes are in place in each deanery offering opportunities to experience infection management
in specialist medical and surgical units.
There are excellent educational opportunities and participation by both consultants and trainees in microbiology in all
Specialty: Medical Microbiology
GMC: SES451
the 3 main centres via teleconference. Our journal club programme has been attended by consultants in other
specialties e.g. Infectious Diseases and Intensive Care, and Cardiology.
All the training centres offer excellent opportunities for experience in infection control and prevention.
The departments are involved in laboratory and clinical research in corroboration with local university departments.
Virology training is offered in the specialist Virology centres in the main teaching hospitals.
How to apply
www.scotmt.scot.nhs.uk/
Posts for each following year (starting in August) appear on the Scottish MMC website usually by the December of
the present year. Posts offered are for all Scottish Med Micro or Medical Virology posts available - but with the
Deanery where the post is available indicated. Medical Microbiology is on-core and entry is usually at ST1.
Deanery Administrative Contacts
Name
Ashleigh Stewart
Address
The Lister Postgraduate Institute, 11 Hill Square EH8 9DR
Tel
Tel: 0131 650 8083
Email
Ashleigh.stewart@nes .scot.nhs.uk
Specialty Training Committee
Chair
Pota Kalima
Members
Mary Hanson, Paddy Gibb, Ian Laurenson, Craig Ferguson,
William Olver, Ed James, Prof Hamish Mackenzie, Prof Ian
Poxton, Prof W Reid (PG Dean)/ Dr Rhiannon Pugh (Assoc PG
Dean), John Hood (TPD Med Microbiology, West of Scotland)
Quality of Training
GMC Trainee Survey Information (2011)
GMC Trainee Survey Report 2011