The South West Regional Neurosurgery training programme is based in 2 units:
In the first year, there is strong emphasis on basic operative technique and clinical decision making. Junior SpRs are assigned to an operating list 2 to 3 days a week, and most trainees participate in more than 200 cases during their first year. The bulk of the cases are trauma craniotomies, routine spinal procedures, and shunt surgery. Registrars attend the outpatient clinic once a week.
Increasingly difficult procedures are assigned to more senior trainees and consist mainly of complex spinal procedures with instrumentation, craniotomy for intra-axial tumors and meningiomas, and posterior fossa surgery.
Senior trainees are exposed to major cases including skull base procedures, complex spine surgery, and posterior fossa procedures. Their responsibilities also include overseeing the clinical service, supporting junior trainees and teaching Senior House Officers and medical students. At the completion of their training programme, trainees would have usually performed in excess of 600 cases personally.
In the final two years, the emphasis is towards consolidating on more complex neurosurgical procedures and succeeding in the Intercollegiate Board Examination in Neurological Surgery (FRCS,SN).
After the completion of training, registrars are encouraged to embark upon a 12 month training fellowship at other institutions to further develop their chosen sub-specialist interest before commencing their neurosurgical careers.
Please also visit the Neurosurgery training section on the http://www.iscp.ac.uk