PATHWAYS IN NEUROSURGICAL TRAINING IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

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PATHWAYS IN NEUROSURGICAL TRAINING IN THE
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

• Chris Lim
• Specialist Registrar,
• Department of Neurosurgery,
• National Centre for Neurosurgery,
• Beaumont Hospital,
• Dublin.

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Neurosurgical Centres in Ireland

• 2 Neurosurgical Departments in Republic of
  Ireland
• Beaumont Hospital, Dublin
• Cork University Hospital, Cork

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Neurosurgical Centres in Ireland

• Cork University Hospital
• Munster Region
• 25 dedicated N/S beds and no dedicated ICU beds
• Beaumont Hospital
• Rest of Country
• 67 dedicated N/S beds and 10 dedicated ICU beds

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Medical Staffing

• Dublin
• 6 Consultant Neurosurgeons
• NCHDs
• 1 Senior Registrar
• 1 Spinal Fellow
• 3 Sp. Registrars
• 1 Visiting Sp. Registrar (Belfast)
• 1 Visiting Registrar (USA)
• 1 Registrar
• 6 SHOs
• 4 Interns
• 1 in 6 rota without prospective cover

• Cork
• 3 Consultant Neurosurgeons
• NCHDs
• 2 Sp. Registrars
• 1 Registrar
• 3 SHOs
• 2 Interns
• 1 in 3 rota without prospective cover

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Typical Neurosurgical Training in Ireland

• Medical School
• Internship
• Basic Surgical Training (including some time
  spent as a N/S SHO)
• Research /- 1 to 2 years as a Registrar
• Specialist Registrar
• Fellowship /- Senior Registrar (Post CCST)
• Consultant

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Typical Weekly Activity for Specialist Registrars
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Neurosurgical On Call Activities in Beaumont
Hospital

• 1 in 6 Rota (1 Consultant, 1 Registrar/SpR, 1 SHO
  and 1 Intern)
• Number of referrals varies but typically 10 to 25
  referrals a day.
• For each referral
• History exam findings
• Review radiology
• Discussion with Consultant
• Advice or transfer patient care
• A/E assessment, resuscitation and theatre
  activities

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Types of Acute referrals

• Trauma Head and spine injuries
• Spontaneous intra-cranial haemorrhages
• Tumours
• Hydrocephalus
• Infection e.g.. IC abscesses
• Others

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So why be a Neurosurgeon ?

• ?

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Consider !

• Patient subgroup may be more acutely or
  critically unwell.
• May be more mentally and emotionally demanding.
• Modern Neurosurgery employs cutting edge
  technology (real time MRI, real - time
  Neuronavigation technology, etc)
• Majority of pathologies can be visualised by
  modern radiological methods to allow for better
  decision making and planning of patient
  management.

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• Thank you