Urology Prospectus

The Urology department is based at Maidstone hospital for inpatient and operative activity with outpatient and some emergency care delivered at the Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury. The department has an internationally renowned Holmium Laser Enucleation of Prostate (HoLEP) service alongside providing surgery for all aspects of core urology, PCNLs, prostate cancer diagnostics (including local anaesthetic transperineal biopsy), prostate brachytherapy, benign upper tract surgery, female and urodynamic urology and paediatric urology. Presently major oncology procedures are performed at Medway Hospital and Eastbourne District General Hospital. It is possible for trainees to travel with their consultant to Medway hospital so that they gain experience in pelvic surgery or nephrectomies/partial nephrectomies.

Maidstone hospital was opened nearly 40 years ago and has been enlarged considerably in the intervening years. It has approximately 300 beds. The Trust consists of Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells hospitals, which are around 14 miles apart, with regular shuttle buses running between for trainees who need to work cross-site as an alternative to driving.

There are seven full time consultant urologists in the department, six registrars/SAS grades (including the speciality trainee), one core surgical trainee year 1, a 24/7 ward based RMO and three FY1s working alongside the team of cancer nurse specialists, advanced nurse practitioners and others.

Post detail

Grade: ST3 to ST7
Location: The postholder will be based at Maidstone Hospital with some attendance at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury for on-call commitments and some outpatient work.
Qualifications & Professional registration required: MRCS; Registered medical qualifications; Completed Foundation years 1 and 2 or equivalent training; Completed CMT years 1 and 2 or equivalent training and at least 1 year UK experience.

Training Programme

Currently there is only one higher urology trainee at MTW which allows us to provide a flexible training post dependent on the stage of training and the trainee’s individuals needs and interests. This could include training with a focus on one of (a combination of) the following areas:

Core urology (including peno-scrotal surgery, TURBT, ureteroscopy, orchidectomy and flexible cystoscopy) Stones (with two consultant surgeons performing PCNL, complex ureteroscopy, ureteric dilatations, memokath insertion etc) HoLEP (large volume service with five consultants currently performing HoLEPs) Prostate cancer (including gaining expertise in LATP biopsy and brachytherapy in the Kent Oncology Centre) Major pelvic and upper tract oncology surgery (with visits to Medway hospital alongside their consultant from MTW) Paediatric urology (including PPVs, orchidopexies and hernias down to age 1) Female and urodynamic urology (including incontinence surgery, a weekly urodynamic list, specialist continence clinic, LA botox, attendance at local and regional MDT and laparoscopic colposuspensions (with urogynaecology colleagues))

We would encourage trainees to contact Mr Rudd and Mr Smith in advance of their post to discuss their educational needs and objectives and plan out their timetable.

We are also active in research, with a good track record of participation in and recruitment to major trials. There is a weekly Friday 8am to 9am departmental teaching programme with internal and external speakers. Trainees are released to regional teaching as required. We run a number of regional and local training days that we encourage the trainee to participate in.

The appointee will take part in the EWTD compliant registrar rota with a total of 6 urology registrars/SAS doctors. This involves 8-5 working daily, one weekly on call from 8am to 8pm and 1 in 6 weekends on call from 8am Friday to 8am Monday (non-resident with Saturday and Sunday ward rounds with the consultant on call). There is a consultant of the week system providing senior review of all emergency patients and close support for out of hours emergencies.

The postholder will be expected to provide: • Provision of in-patient care for Consultant’s patients, advice on urological problems for other teams • Attendance at monthly Departmental Clinical Governance and Audit Meetings • Attendance at weekly teaching sessions and regional KSS teaching days• To participate in on call • Attendance at out-patient clinics as appropriate • Discharge summaries and follow up clinic letters as directed. • Other duties as directed by the Clinical Lead or designated Consultant for the care of patients.

College Tutors

Mr Ian Rudd

Lead for Education and Training

Outcome

Specialist training in Urology will be provided suitable for a specialist trainee in general urology between ST3 and CCT level.
Though elements of specialist training suitable for post CCT trainees exist this is not specifically designed as a post CCT fellowship post.

Salary Scale

All payscales can be found on the website below. The Trust is continually working with juniors to make sure all rotas are compliant. You will initially receive an offer letter followed by your contract. Should you require any additional information beforehand, please contact our Medical Staffing department by email.

Payments Policy

Employee salaries are paid on the 24th of the month. If this falls on a weekend salaries will be paid on the last working day.

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