Training in Geriatric Medicine in Northern Ireland
Geriatric Medicine is the specialty focused on providing care for the health needs of older people. Training to become a Geriatrician provides a trainee with a wide range of opportunities to experience multiple sub specialty areas delivered both in hospital and community settings. Trainees will develop the skills to deliver care to our aging population within a multi professional clinical team and have the opportunity to select sub specialty areas of interest in line with the 2022 curriculum.
Geriatric medicine training is paired with training in General internal medicine and is a rotational training program where the trainees avail of the considerable experience of local Consultants based in the numerous training units around the province.
The delivery of the training is overseen by the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA) and the current training program director is Dr Dominic Hart who is a consultant geriatrician currently working in Downpatrick for the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.
A locally delivered educational program is organised by senior trainees and is closely linked to the curriculum learning requirements. A local mentoring scheme for new trainees is under development.
A summary of the training opportunities available through each Trust is outlined below along with local contacts. This list is not exhaustive and local clinical and educational supervisors and senior trainees can assist in obtaining detail as to how best to arrange and manage your experience in any given unit.
For more information about training in geriatric Medicine within Northern Ireland please contact Dr Hart at Dominic [dot] hart [at] setrust [dot] hscni [dot] net.
Trusts and Training Opportunities
Located in the city of Derry/Londonderry Altnagelvin hospital offers a wide variety of services to the local community within its 472 inpatient beds and 36 day case beds.
Medicine for older people is provided for by a team of dedicated Consultant Geriatricians experienced in a wide range of subspecialty areas. Trainees can avail of experience in a number of curriculum domains alongside gaining experience in the acute general take.
Altnagelvin Area Hospital | Western Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net)
The table below outlines available training opportunities.
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Name of Trust: WHSCT - Altnagelvin |
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|
Sub Specialty |
Availability |
How to access |
|
Palliative Care |
Y |
Ad hoc days with Hospital Specialist Palliative Care Team. Sessions also in Foyle Hospice Palliative Care Consultant Damien [dot] McMullan [at] westerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net |
|
Psych of Old Age |
Y |
Inpatient POA wards in Waterside Hospital, Gransha Park Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist Catherine [dot] Forgie [at] westerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net |
|
Orthogeriatrics |
N |
|
|
Community Geriatric Medicine |
Y |
Hospital at Home (formerly ACAH), based on Gransha site Week long attachments Stephen [dot] todd [at] westerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net |
|
Stroke & TIA service |
Y |
Hyperacute, acute and stroke rehab |
|
Liaison service |
Y |
Part of day to day role |
|
Rehabilitation (including stroke) |
Y |
In stroke unit. Also available in Waterside Hospital. Josephine [dot] Hillan [at] westerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net |
|
Clinic |
Availability |
How to access |
|
Movement disorder |
Y |
Weekly MD clinic David [dot] dunne [at] westerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net |
|
Continence Clinics & Urodynamics |
Y |
Community [dot] continence [at] westerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net |
|
Falls Clinic |
N |
General COE clinic instead Roisin [dot] healy [at] westerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net |
|
Syncope service with tilt table testing |
N |
|
|
Osteoporosis Clinic |
Y |
david [dot] armstrong [at] westerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net |
|
Memory clinic |
Y |
Joint COTE/OAP Memory Assessment Service Weekly Memory MDT (Thurs am) and memory clinics (Wed pm, Thurs pm) Stephen [dot] todd [at] westerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net |
|
Heart Failure |
N |
|
|
TVN |
Y |
kate [dot] moran [at] westerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net |
|
Nutrition |
Y |
kerry [dot] quinn [at] westerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net |
The Belfast Trust is the largest health & social care Trust in the United Kingdom providing integrated care to approximately 340,000 citizens in Belfast alongside the majority of regional specialist services to all of Northern Ireland.
Services within the Belfast Trust a spread across multiple hospital sites and work alongside robust community based teams.
Medicine for older people is provided from the Mater hospital with rehabilitation and community teams based in Musgrave Park hospital. Stroke services are delivered from the Royal Victoria hospital site. The Belfast City Hospital offers a range of outpatient services covering numerous curriculum domains.
Belfast Health & Social Care Trust website | Belfast Health & Social Care Trust website (hscni.net)
The table below outlines available training opportunities.
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Name of Trust: BHSCT |
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|
Sub Specialty |
Availability |
How to access |
|
Palliative Care |
Y |
Marie Curie/Hospice |
|
Psych of Old Age |
Y |
Barbara English |
|
Orthogeriatrics |
Y |
Gary Heyburn |
|
Community Geriatric Medicine |
Y |
Jan Ritchie |
|
Stroke & TIA service |
Y |
Patricia Fearon |
|
Liaison service |
Y |
Ruben Tauro |
|
Rehabilitation (including stroke) |
Y |
Patricia Fearon/Ruben Tauro |
|
Clinic |
Availability |
How to access |
|
Movement disorder |
Y |
Mark Magorrian/Seamus Kearney |
|
Continence Clinics & Urodynamics |
N |
|
|
Falls Clinic |
Y |
Cecilia Cullen |
|
Syncope service with tilt table testing |
N |
|
|
Osteoporosis Clinic |
Y |
John Lindsay/Ayanda Baird |
|
Memory clinic |
Y |
Bernadette McGuinness |
|
Heart Failure |
Y |
Lana Dixon |
|
TVN |
Y |
Contact in BCH |
|
Nutrition |
Y |
Gerard Rafferty |
The Northern Trust is headquartered in Antrim Area Hospital which is one of the busiest hospitals for unscheduled care services in Northern Ireland with an emergency department that caters for approximately 90,000 patients per year. It has a Direct Assessment Unit where GPs can speak directly with medical staff to receive specialist advice and, if appropriate, to arrange a referral to the unit where treatment can begin immediately. This means people can avoid unnecessary waits in the Emergency Department.
Antrim Area Hospital - Northern Health and Social Care Trust (hscni.net)
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Name of Trust: Northern Trust
Hospital Sites:
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Sub Specialty |
Availability |
How to access |
|
Palliative Care |
Y |
AAH - MacMillan Unit Contact – Dr Daniel Soutar Email - Daniel [dot] Soutar [at] northerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net |
|
Psych of Old Age |
Y |
HOL – Inver 4 Contact – Dr Sraah McCann Email - SarahM [dot] McCann [at] northerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net |
|
Stroke & TIA service |
Y |
AAH – Ward A6 Contact – Djamil Vahidassr Email - Djamil [dot] Vahidassr [at] northerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net
|
|
Intensive Care/Peri-operative |
Y |
AAH – ICU Contact – Dr Andrew Black Email - Andrew [dot] Black [at] northerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net |
|
Clinic |
Availability |
How to access |
|
Movement disorder |
Y |
AAH/BVH Contact/Email:
|
|
Continence Service |
Y |
AAH – Spruce House Contact – Deirdre O’Brien Email - Deirdre [dot] OBrien [at] northerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net
|
|
Falls Clinic |
Y |
WAH – Day Rehabilitation Unit (DRU) Contact/Email:
|
|
Osteoporosis Clinic |
Y |
Dr AnneMarie McShane/Dr Aiden O’Neil
|
|
Memory clinic |
Y |
BVD Contact – Djamil Vahidassr Email - Djamil [dot] Vahidassr [at] northerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net
|
|
Heart Failure |
Y |
AAH Contact – Dr Aileen Kearney Email - Aileen [dot] Kearney [at] northerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net
|
|
TVN |
Y |
AAH – Bush House Contact – Jenny Bonnar Email - Jenny [dot] Bonnar [at] northerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net
|
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Nutrition |
Y |
AAH Contact - Bernadette Campbell Email - Bernadette [dot] Campbell [at] northerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net
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Other
|
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Opportunity |
Availability |
How to access |
|
Medical Education |
Y |
AAH Contacts/Email: Medical Education Lead – Dr Kate Scott - Kate [dot] Scott [at] northerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net Sub-Deanery Fellow Lead – Dr Ronan Cunningham - Ronan [dot] Cunningham [at] northerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net Simulation Lead – Dr Robert Mullan - Robert [dot] Mullan [at] northerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net |
|
GIM
|
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|
Clinic |
Availability |
How to access |
|
Cardiology (including cardioversion lists) |
Y |
AAH Contact – Dr Aileen Kearney Email - Aileen [dot] Kearney [at] northerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net
|
|
DAU/Ambulatory Care |
Y |
AAH Contact – Dr Ursula Griffiths Email - Ursula [dot] Griffiths [at] northerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net
|
|
Rheumatology Clinics
|
Y |
AAH (OPD2/Fern House/PTU) Contact – Dr Thomas McNeilly Email - Thomas [dot] McNeilly [at] northerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net
|
|
General Medicine |
Y |
AAH Contact – Djamil Vahidassr Email - Djamil [dot] Vahidassr [at] northerntrust [dot] hscni [dot] net
|
The South eastern Trust is headquartered at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald (East Belfast). The Ulster hospital is the major acute hospital for the Trust and delivers the full range of acute services for the population. This includes a type 1 Emergency Department which is open 24/7, a comprehensive range of diagnostic services, the full range of outpatient, inpatient and daycase medical and surgical services, cancer care and coronary care.
Trainees in geriatric medicine are largely based at the ulster hospital site but a post is also available in Lagan valley hospital in Lisburn. The Lagan Valley hospital is a local hospital that provides a range of inpatient medical services as well as outpatient, diagnostic and daycase services for the local population.
Trainees can have an opportunity to experience both hospital and community based services from both sites.
Home - South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net)
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Name of Trust: South Eastern Trust UHD – Ulster Hospital ; LVH – Lagan Valley Hospital; DH – Downe Hospital ARDS – Ards community Hospital; Domnall Intermediate Care Centre; LICC Lisburn Intermediate Care Centre
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Sub Specialty |
Availability |
How to access |
|
Palliative Care |
Y |
UHD Ward referrals and clinics Contact Dr Simon Coulter
LVH Dr Rachel Campbell |
|
Psych of Old Age |
Y |
UHD Ward 27 ARDS OP Clinics Contact Dr Roinin McNally
DH Downeshire IP unit
LVH POA Ward Dr Brid Kerrigan and Leo Tumelty
|
|
Orthogeriatrics |
Y |
LVH Lynne Armstrong
|
|
Community Geriatric Medicine ECAH / H@H |
Y |
UHD Contact Dr Amanda Crawford LVH Contact Dr Michael Alcorn (LICC)
|
|
Stroke & TIA service |
Y |
UHD. Dr Kevin Dynan Contact Dr Mark Bowman
|
|
Liaison service |
Y |
Frailty Liaison Service (LVH),
Stroke Liaison (UHD) Contact Dr Colin Menagh
Rehab Liaison (UHD) Contact Dr Ciaran Trolan
|
|
Rehabilitation (including stroke) |
Y |
Ards and Domnall. Contact Dr Amanda Crawford or Dr Ciaran Trolan
|
|
Clinic |
Availability |
How to access |
|
Movement disorder |
Y |
UHD. Contact Dr Ciaran Trolan or Dr Charlie Ong
DH Contact Dr Julia Foy LVH Contact Dr Julia Foy (Thurs PM)
|
|
Continence: Complex catheter/procedure clinics Urodynamics clinics LUTS clinics |
Y |
Bangor community Hospital. Lisburn Health Centre Continence Advisors Diane Duffield Julie Hassard Helene Killen Consultant Dr Rachael Hutton
LVH OP LUTS clinic – Niamh Kellet (Wed AM)
|
|
Falls Clinic |
Y |
UHD LVH OP Clinic – Michel Alcorn (Thurs AM) DH
|
|
Syncope service with tilt table testing |
Y |
Tilt table clinic Contact Dr Kevin Dynan
|
|
Osteoporosis Clinic |
Y |
Dr McKane. 4th & 5th Mondays Alison [dot] meharg [at] setrust [dot] hscni [dot] net
|
|
Memory clinic |
Y |
Memory clinic available through Psych of Old Age.
|
|
Heart Failure |
Y |
UHD Cardiac Hub Contact Emma McMullan, Julie Purcell or Karen McIlrath. UHD HF OPC Contact Dr McGowan
|
|
TVN |
Y |
UHD / Community – Vivienne Murdoch Vivienne [dot] Murdoch [at] setrust [dot] hscni [dot] net
|
|
Nutrition |
Y |
UHD Dietetics Prosser, Justine <Justine [dot] Prosser [at] setrust [dot] hscni [dot] net>
|
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Other
|
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|
Clinic |
Availability |
How to access |
|
POPS (Perioperative Care for Older People undergoing Surgery) |
N |
|
|
RAC (Rapid Access Clinic)/OSAC (One Stop Assessment Centre) |
Y |
DH Dr Dominic Hart UHD Sr Dawn McKee
|
|
Dizzy pathway |
|
|
|
GIM
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Clinic |
Availability |
How to access |
|
Cardiology |
Y |
UHD Specialist nurses: Emma McMullan emma [dot] mcmullan [at] setrusthscni [dot] net Julie Purcell Julie [dot] purcell [at] setrust [dot] hscni [dot] net Karen McIlrath Karen [dot] mcilrath [at] setrust [dot] hscni [dot] net
UHD HF nurse-led clinic runs Monday-Thursday mornings in cardiac hub.
Dr Mark McGowan runs UHD HF clinic ( Tuesday afternoons) |
|
Cardiology Device Clinics |
Y |
Pacing clinics ILR and PPM implants – Sr Dawn Stephens
|
|
Neurology |
Y |
UHD / LVH. Clinics and/or ward referrals as clinic equivalent. Contact Dr Ailsa Fulton
|
The main hospital and site for the Trust headquarters is Craigavon Area Hospital where a wide range of acute inpatient and outpatient services are provided. Community based training opportunities for geriatric medicine trainees are based in the local hospitals outlined in the table below and offer excellent opportunities to experience consultant led ‘hospital at home’ type service.
Trainees are placed to either Craigavon area hospital or Daisy Hill hospital in Newry. The service in Daisy Hill hospital is currently undergoing a process of review and change that NIMDTA are monitoring closely to ensure training quality and opportunities are minimally impacted.
There are opportunities for trainees to attend the unit at South Tyrone Hospital in Dungannon where there is a rehabilitation unit, day hospital, rapid assessment clinic as well as other specialty clinic opportunities.
Southern Health & Social Care Trust | Southern Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net)
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Name of Trust: Southern Trust CAH – Craigavon Area Hospital LGH – Lurgan Hospital STH – South Tyrone Hospital DHH – Daisyhill Hospital AC@HT – Acute Care @ Home Team. 3 areas:
|
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|
Sub Specialty |
Availability |
How to access |
|
Palliative Care |
Y |
Newry Hospice CAH and DHH Ward referrals and clinics Contact Dr Jayne McAuley
|
|
Psych of Old Age |
Y |
Mullinure (Armagh) Contact Dr Chris Southwell
DHH. Contact Lauren Megahey
|
|
Orthogeriatrics |
Y |
CAH. Contact Dr Kirsty Kirk
|
|
Community Geriatric Medicine |
Y |
Clinical Lead is Dr Patricia McCaffrey Contact Dr Elaine Nelson
|
|
Stroke & TIA service |
Y |
CAH. Contact Dr Michael McCormick DHH. Under review
|
|
Liaison service |
Y |
Frailty, Stroke and Rehab Liaison (DHH). Contact Dr
Frailty/Geriatric Liaison Service (GLS) (CAH), Contact Dr Samantha Leung
Stroke Liaison (CAH) Contact Dr Michael McCormick
Rehab Liaison (CAH) Contact Dr Elaine Nelson
|
|
Rehabilitation (including stroke) |
Y |
LGH and STH. Contact Dr Elaine Nelson
|
|
Clinic |
Availability |
How to access |
|
Movement disorder |
Y |
LGH. Contact Dr Patricia McCaffrey STH. Contact Dr David Craig DHH. Under review. Contact Dr Patricia McCaffrey
|
|
Continence: Complex catheter/procedure clinics Urodynamics clinics LUTS clinics |
Y |
CAH. Contact is Jenny McMahon, Urology Specialist nurse
|
|
Falls Clinic |
Y |
LGH and Mullinure (Armagh). Contact Dr Elaine Nelson
DHH. Under review. Contact Dr Elaine Nelson
|
|
Syncope service with tilt table testing |
Y |
Syncope clinic and access to ACU (Ambulatory Cardiology Unit) Contact Dr Jude Tweedie
Patients are referred to Belfast for tilt table testing.
|
|
Osteoporosis Clinic |
Y |
CAH. Contact Dr Damian Gormley STH. Contact Dr Elaine Nelson
|
|
Memory clinic |
Y |
Memory clinic available through Psych of Old Age. Contact Dr Chris Southwell
|
|
Heart Failure |
Y |
CAH and DHH Contacts are Dr Patricia Campbell and Dr Alistair Gray
|
|
TVN |
Y |
Edenderry House, Portadown Complex wound clinic Contact Rosemary Anderson TVN Specialist
|
|
Nutrition |
Y |
Dietetics Clinic CAH and DHH Contact Hilary Mathieson
Community Enteral Tube feeding reviews Contact Rachel Wright
|
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Other
|
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Clinic |
Availability |
How to access |
|
POPS (Perioperative Care for Older People undergoing Surgery) |
Y |
CAH. Contacts are Dr Samantha Leung and Dr Michael Magee |
|
RAC (Rapid Access Clinic)/OPAU (Older Persons Assessment Unit) |
Y |
Mullinure (Armagh). Contact Dr Elaine Nelson DHH. Under review. Contact Dr Elaine Nelson |
|
Dizzy pathway |
For the future |
Dr Michael McCormick is working with ENT to establish a Dizzy pathway.
|
|
GIM
|
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|
Clinic |
Availability |
How to access |
|
Cardiology |
Y |
CAH. Contact Dr Mick Connolly STH. Contact Dr Peadar McKeown
|
|
Cardiology Device Clinics |
Y |
Pacing clinics ILR and PPM implants CAH Contact Natalie Archer
|
|
Neurology |
Y |
CAH. Clinics and/or ward referrals as clinic equivalent. Contact Dr Raeburn Forbes.
|