Renal Medicine

About

The HEE KSS training programme in Renal Medicine is a five year programme leading to dual accreditation in Renal Medicine and in General Internal Medicine (GIM).

The programme is led by Nik Patel, Head of School, and Dr Clare Castledine, Training Programme Director. To find out more about their roles visit the Meet the Team webpage.

Training in HEE KSS gives you the opportunity to train in tertiary specialty units as well as DGHs, providing you with the full range of specialty and general medical practice and education. These units have proven to be effective, supportive and popular with trainees. The programme will support you to attain all the curricular requirements, including SCE. Trainees who complete the programme will be qualified to apply competitively for posts in renal medicine, with or without a GIM component, anywhere in the UK (and other countries where UK qualifications are accepted); the training programme covers all areas of the curriculum, including:

  • transplantation
  • haemodialysis
  • home dialysis therapies
  • general nephrology and low clearance
  • AKI
  • rare diseases
  • adolescent transition
  • non-renal hypertension
  • donor work up (including altruistic)

How is training provided?

The requirement for gaining CCTs in renal and internal medicine includes a time component which, for dual accreditation, is a minimum of three years in renal medicine and one year in GIM (two years if pre-IMT). In common with some other programmes, KSS provide GIM and Renal training in separate blocks. Trainees are encouraged to take a period ‘Out of Programme’ to complete a higher degree or similar, or to gain additional training experience.

Where do trainees train?

At present the Sussex-based and Kent-based rotations are separate, reflecting a range of factors, not least geographical convenience for trainees. Currently trainees are not based in Surrey as there is no renal centre there (renal services are provided on an in-reach basis by units in adjacent areas). These rotations are created for each trainee according to their educational and personal needs, and aim to be family friendly and encourage less than full time working.

The two KSS renal units are tertiary referral units and undertake the full range of nephrological services, except for the surgical phase of transplantation – trainees rotate to one of the two South London Transplant Centres for this.

In these placements you will satisfy the curricular requirements for “acute transplantation” and also train in other aspects of nephrology too. Conversely, the Kent and Sussex based renal units are responsible for recipient and donor work and long term management of transplanted patients.

To find out more about each training location, please visit the Local Education Provider webpage.

Sussex rotation

The locations and duration given are a guide only. The sequence may vary and hence the years of attachment are indicative not absolute. Some trainees undertake an ITU placement instead of GIM and some spend more time at St Georges or at Guys. In addition there are other GIM placements in Eastbourne and Brighton.

IM3 (ST3)
Worthing Hospital, Worthing – Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

GIM
12 months

ST4

*Sussex Kidney Unit, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton – Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

Renal

12 months

ST5

*Sussex Kidney Unit, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton – Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

Renal
12 months

ST6
St George’s Hospital, London – St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 

Renal
Six months

ST6/7
Ashford and St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey – Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

GIM
12 months

ST7

*Sussex Kidney Unit, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton – Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

Renal
Six months

(*Sussex Kidney Unit, Royal Sussex County Hospital is the base hospital but the renal service provides outreach clinics in hospitals throughout Sussex)

Kent rotation

The locations and duration given are largely confirmed although the programme is still expanding and the GIM locations may by subject to revision. The sequence may vary and hence the years of attachment are indicative not absolute

IM3 (ST3)
Ashford and St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey – Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

GIM
12 months

ST4
Renal Unit, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury – East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust

Renal
12 months

ST5

St George’s Hospital, London – St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 

Renal
12 months

ST6 –
Renal Unit, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury – East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust

Renal
Six months

ST6

Conquest Hospital, St. Leonards-on-Sea – East Sussex Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

GIM
Six months

ST7
Conquest Hospital, St. Leonards-on-Sea – East Sussex Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

GIM
Six months

ST7
Renal Unit, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury – East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust

Renal
Six months

(*Kent and Canterbury is the base hospital but the renal service provides outreach clinics in hospitals throughout Kent)

Teaching and Learning

Renal training days are provided in conjunction with the South London training programme; Wessex trainees also attend. There are seven training days per year, covering the curriculum in a rolling three-year cycle.

The two KSS units, four south London units and Portsmouth each host one day per year. They are timed so as not to clash with major national (RA, BRS, BTS, BHS) and international specialty meetings; trainees are encouraged to attend these. Trainees are encouraged to join the Renal Association and also the renal SpR club. There are in addition GIM training days and local teaching within both tertiary renal units.