Seeking Approval of Fellowships

It is not essential to do a fellowship in your training as an orthopaedic SpR. We do however encourage trainees to consider this as a way of developing experience and broadening horizons. Choosing a fellowship can be a difficult decision. Help can be obtained from your consultant trainers, mentors and from others who have undertaken fellowships.

Undertaking a period of absence from the training programme in a clinical or research fellowship requires much time and preparation. Planning may take as much as twelve months or more. Some of the more popular fellowships may be filled several years in advance. Visas and work permits will need to be obtained for fellowships abroad. Family and housing will need to be considered. Tax rules vary and will need to be investigated.

From the contractual and educational perspective, approval must be sought from the Specialist Advisory Committee (SAC) and from the Postgraduate Dean. The SAC must be prospectively notified of any intended absence from the training programme. Educational approval for any fellowship will not be granted retrospectively. Notice of at least six months, and preferably longer, is required. Many fellowships in countries such as Australia and North America are recognised for training, but others, such as in Third World countries will require submission of detailed information for the committee to consider.

Contractual approval for leave of absence from the training programme is sought from the Postgraduate Dean directly. He seeks the recommendation of the regional Specialty Training Committee (STC) and so prior application should be made to the Training Programme Director. As this committee meets quarterly a minimum period of notice of six months, and preferably twelve months, is required. In order to consider the application, information regarding the training content of the fellowship, educational goals, job plan, and if possible evidence from previous fellows should be submitted. The committee considers, in the light of the training needs of the individual, whether the fellowship is appropriate. If approved by the STC, the SpR is informed and recommendation given to the Postgraduate Dean.

It is the view of Postgraduate Deans that fellowships should, where possible, be counted toward training – in other words the expected CCST date should not be deferred. This has been considered by the STC, which believes that it should be considered on an individual basis. No more than twelve months of a research fellowship can be counted toward training. Clinical fellowships in educationally approved posts totalling more than twelve months can be counted toward training for the award of CCST in the UK. European regulations, however, state that at least five years of training should take place in the EU. If more than twelve months of training takes place outside the EU then it is theoretically possible that employment in other countries of the EU may be denied despite the award of CCST in this country.

If the CCST date occurs during the fellowship then the six month period of grace usually granted at the end of training starts from the CCST date, and not the date of completion of the fellowship.

Further advice can be obtained from the Training Programme Director, who should, in any case, be informed of fellowship intentions at the earliest opportunity.

Peter J Briggs

Training Programme Director

5^th October 2001