What does your specialty involve?
How do I get into your specialty?
How do I make myself competitive at Foundation and/or Core Training to get into your specialty?
What personal attributes do I need for your specialty?
How competitive is it to get a training post?
How long is the training after FY2 to CCT?
What postgraduate examinations will I need to work for during training?
Do I need to pass any postgraduate examinations at Core level to get into "run-through"?
Is your specialty stressful?
What are the best and worst aspects of your specialty?
I would like to have a family - is that possible while training in this specialty?
Is there any chance of Less Than Full Time Training in your specialty?
Is full time research mandatory duting training?
Are the hours anti-social?
What tips can you give on starting and advancing in your specialty?
What are the chances of a Consultant post after CCT?
What is the dropout rate during training?
Can I spend some of my time training abroad?
Can I work part time or job share as a Consultant?
Where can I get the best information about your specialty and the training programme locally and nationally?    

What does your specialty involve?

The majority of paediatricians work in district hospitals looking after babies and children with both acute and chronic illnesses. Routine work includes seeing children in Outpatients Departments, emergency work on the wards or sick babies in special care baby units.

Some work in community settings with children who have disabilities or other special needs, or with issues such as children’s palliative care, adoption and fostering, and immunisation. Paediatricians can at times also be involved with child protection and safeguarding children.

A small number of paediatricians will work in one sub-specialty, such as neurology or gastroenterology, usually in a tertiary referral children’s hospital. Neonatologists specialise in the care of the sickest and most premature babies in neonatal intensive care units. There are currently thirteen recognized subspecialties within paediatrics.

Other tasks are teaching and training, management, administration such as writing letters and reports, talking to families and other health professionals. Multidisciplinary working is an essential part of a paediatrician’s job.  [back to top]

How do I get into your specialty?

Entry is by competitive interview at ST1, although there may be some vacancies at ST2-4 also. Paediatrics is currently an eight year run-through programme, although there are opportunities for some to shorten the duration of training.  [back to top] 

How do I make myself competitive at Foundation and/or Core Training to get into your specialty?

We would encourage you to get involved with all things paediatric right from the start of Foundation training. Time spent in paediatrics at F2 is not essential, and in any case not all trainees are able to be placed in paediatrics in F2. We strongly encourage you to arrange a taster module in paediatrics in F2.You should try to go to any local paediatric presentations or meetings. It is often possible to do audits or guidelines that have a paediatric slant.

It is Deanery policy that trainees do not need to do MRCPCH1a /b in the F2 year. However, you may wish to do these exams in your own time and the background knowledge gained in the process is invaluable.

It is also useful to get involved with children’s activities outside work such as youth clubs, church groups, children’s charities, etc.  [back to top]

What personal attributes do I need for your specialty?

The list of personal attributes includes the following:
Patience, sensitivity, empathy and emotional resilience
Good communication skills
Good team working skills
Comfortable with informality
A good sense of humour
Flexibility
Commitment to promoting the welfare of children
Capacity for hard work  [back to top]

How competitive is it to get a training post?

We are keen to appoint highly motivated individuals who can demonstrate a commitment to the specialty. There are currently 10 ST1 and 3 FTSTA1 posts each year. Competition varies from to year but approximately 50% of those interviewed in recent years have been offered training posts in paediatrics.  [back to top]

How long is the training after FY2 to CCT?

The run-through programme lasts for 8 years, although there is the opportunity to miss out ST3 and/or ST5 depending on acquisition of the MRCPCH and satisfactory demonstration of competences.

The ST1-3 years are the equivalent of core training in paediatrics. The trainee develops the essential knowledge and skills required of a paediatrician, and gains Part 2 of MRCPCH.

During ST4-5, there is specific “core” training in neonatal paediatrics, community paediatrics and general/specialty paediatrics at middle grade level. The trainee develops their middle grade managerial skills.

ST6-8 are the higher specialty training years. During this time the trainee will have opportunities to undertake further general or sub-specialty paediatric training. This may be locally, elsewhere in the UK as part of National Grid Sub-specialty Training or overseas depending on prospective PMETB out-of-program approval. Some choose also to carry out research towards a higher degree.  [back to top]

What postgraduate examinations will I need to work for during training?

MRCPCH 1a and b must be obtained by the end of ST2 and the MRCPCH part II clinical exam of by the end of ST3 before trainees can progress to middle grade “core” training. Trainees are encouraged to sit these exams at the earliest possible opportunity.  [back to top]

Do I need to pass any PG examinations at Core level to get into ‘run through’?

No. Run through starts in ST1.  [back to top]

Is your specialty stressful?

There is no doubt that paediatrics is a challenging and demanding specialty at times. Many posts are very busy, but trainees enjoy the experience that this provides. Children can become very ill in a very short space of time and this places demands on those looking after them. Caring for sick or dying children and their families can at times be emotionally draining.  [back to top] 

What are the best and worst aspects of your specialty?

This varies from person to person. The rewards are endless, from seeing a critically ill child get better, building relationships with families as their children develop over the years, to working with families and many other professionals to produce a good quality of life for a child.  [back to top] 

I would like to have a family –is that possible while training in this specialty?

Yes. About 60-70% of paediatric trainees are female and most start their families during training. There are opportunities for job sharing and other flexible ways of working.  [back to top]

Is there any chance of Less than Full Time Training in your specialty?

Yes. You need to contact NIMDTA about this if you are interested.  [back to top] 

Is full time research mandatory during training?

No, but many of our trainees have undertaken a period of research training towards a higher degree. Some will undertake Master’s degrees in allied subjects such as medical education, ethics or sub-specialty specific topics. We encourage this because it develops the trainee as an individual.  [back to top]

Are the hours anti-social?

Most of our trainees work on shift rotas. The “out-of-hours” intensity can be high in certain posts and during the winter months.  [back to top]

What tips can you give on starting and advancing in your specialty?

Speak to as many people as you can before starting – current trainees, paediatric consultants and the Head/Deputy Head of School. Keep adding to your portfolio and plan your training needs well in advance. Work hard and maintain an inquisitive mind. Don’t neglect interests outside work.  [back to top]

What are the chances of a Consultant post after CCT?

There are a steady number of Consultant vacancies every year in NI. The vast majority of trainees who have successfully completed their training get a consultant post in the area of their interest. Opportunities in some sub-specialties in Northern Ireland are naturally limited and you may have to consider working elsewhere in the UK.  [back to top]

What is the dropout rate during training?

Low. Some trainees elect to move into Staff Grade posts for personal reasons.  [back to top]

Can I spend some of my time training abroad?

Yes. Provided prospective recognition has been sought from the Training Programme Director and Postgraduate Dean and this has been granted and approved by PMETB, then a period of training abroad can count towards CCT. This option takes a lot of planning and needs to be organised well in advance.  [back to top]

Can I work part time or job share as a Consultant?

Yes, by agreement with your employer.  [back to top]

Where can I get the best information about your specialty and the training programme locally and nationally?

Talk with any of the local paediatric consultants or trainees who would be happy to share their own knowledge and experience.

Contact Dr Richard Tubman, Head of School of Paediatrics (richard.tubman@belfasttrust.hscni.net) or Dr Stan Craig, Training Programme Director (stan.craig@belfasttrust.hscni.net) for details of the training programme.

The “Prospectus of Training in Paediatrics in N. Ireland” is available via the NIMDTA website. (http://www.nimdta.gov.uk/ )

Visit the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health website (http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/ ) for detailed information on paediatric careers, examinations and training.  [back to top]