Paediatrics and child health
Introduction
Welcome to the Paediatric training page. The Paediatric Training Programme in Wales provides supportive and welcoming environments for nurturing trainees in our challenging but highly rewarding specialty, with a strong sense of community across our small and compact nation.
As well as an excellent opportunity for a well-balanced and fulfilling lifestyle, Wales provides a wide variety of learning opportunities and options within its many paediatric services. Our trainees have an excellent reputation for innovation and many successful training initiatives have started here. Trainee feedback is very positive from provider units within Wales, and the School of Paediatrics has a keen and active interest in listening to and acting upon trainees’ views.
Training in Wales
The Paediatric Training Programme in Wales is conveniently divided into two distinct geographical areas – north Wales and south Wales.
Trainees choosing to train in north Wales will receive most of their training there, but will rotate to hospitals within the adjoining Mersey region (Alder Hey and Arrow Park) for subspecialty training. There are two deanery Paediatric specialty teaching units in north Wales – Wrexham Maelor Hospital and Glan Clwyd Hospital. Trainees who live in a relatively central location can commute to all of these units throughout their training programme.
Likewise, trainees on the south Wales Programme will stay there for their whole programme. Training in most Paediatric subspecialties, including Neonatal Medicine, is provided at Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, and all the other deanery Paediatric specialty teaching units are placed such that trainees who live centrally near the M4 corridor in Wales could also commute to each training unit throughout the entire programme. The furthest Paediatric unit west is Glangwili Hospital at Carmarthen and the furthest east is Grange Hospital near Newport.
Typically, trainees in their early years will be placed for one year in General Paediatrics, one year in neonatal Medicine and six months each in Community Paediatrics and another subspecialty including General Paediatrics (not necessarily in this order). As the Progress+ programme starts in September 2023, it is anticipated that the role of trainee choice will become more prominent for determining placements in subsequent years, and will depend on trainees’ career preferences.
As a Wales Paediatric Training School we have always looked upon trainee requests for less than full time working and out of programme experience positively. The current proportion of Wales trainees working less than full time (LTFT) is over 50%.
The Welsh School of Paediatrics has a well-established active simulation programme with a large faculty of multi-professional educators across the paediatric and neonatal training units.
Hear from current trainees
"As a LTFT trainee in North Wales I've had a fantastic experience so far. Our North Wales trainee hospitals are going from strength to strength, and tertiary experience in Mersey is invaluable. Our Local Programme Director (LPD)/Training Programme Director (TPD) are very supportive and approachable and the NWPTC are always available for help and support." (Michaela Morton, ST3 Trainee, North Wales)
"Training in South Wales has provided me extensive opportunities and experience of Paediatrics in a tertiary hospital but has also enabled me to pursue and develop skills in leadership roles. It is a perfect place for post-graduate medics to flourish." (Matthew Spencer, ST2 Trainee, South Wales)
“The Wales Paediatric programme has so much to offer its trainees. It’s a decision you will not regret. HEIW is a close-knit community that thrives to support and nurture its trainees. There is an active paediatric training committee who advocate for their fellow peers and facilitate training when needed. Opportunities are plenty and I have been lucky enough to represent paediatrics in Wales at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). Whatever your interests or ambitions in paediatrics I can attest that Wales will help guide, shape and create the career you seek.” (Hannah Davies, ST5 Trainee, South Wales)
“Wales provides a personal training experience, being a relatively small deanery with selected, high quality hospitals covering all of your training needs. Senior clinicians get to know you well, and in turn get invested in turning you into the best paediatrician you could possibly be.” (Joe Mullally, ST3 Trainee, North Wales)