Cardiothoracic Surgery

NHS England – Wessex is coordinating a process for recruiting postgraduate doctors in training into ST1 posts in Cardiothoracic Surgery training programmes across regions in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales with a post start date from August 2025. Completion of a programme will lead to CCT / CESR (CP) subject to satisfactory progression.

Some summary information is included below. However, please see the hyperlinks tab for links to further information about the recruitment process.

When applying to this specialty in this recruitment round, you will not need to give preferences of particular posts, regions, rotations, etc. at the time of applying; just complete and submit an application for the specialty. Should you be subsequently long/short-listed for interview, you will be invited to give preferences of all posts available nationally at a later stage of the recruitment round.

All recruitment to this specialty in this round will be managed by NHS England – Wessex, who will coordinate all long/short-listing of applications, host all interviews, and make offers on behalf of all participating regions.

Applications are equally open to those who may, either from the outset or subsequently, wish to train less than full time or job share.

Please note that there is a strict application policy that applications cannot be accepted after the deadline.

The hyperlinks tab includes a link to the person specification which details the eligibility criteria for this specialty. Before applying please read the Medical Specialty Training person specifications to assess your suitability for the post.

You will also find a link to information about demonstrating your competence for a training post in this specialty. All applicants, apart from those not needing, will need to upload documentation demonstrating they have attained the necessary competence at time of application. It is very important you find out what is acceptable documentation.

Additional information

Please visit https://wessex.hee.nhs.uk/medical-dental-training-recruitment/core-and-specialty/cardiothoracic-surgery-st1-st4-national-recruitment/ for the following information:

• Indicative number of vacancies available
• Likely locations of posts and possible employers within the training programme
• Expected rotation details

Key dates and information

Interview dates: 3 and 4 February 2025

Interview process: All interviews will be held virtually using Qpercom Recruit

Length of interview: Please refer to the applicant guide

Interview structure: Please refer to the applicant guide

Enquiries

During the recruitment process please visit the NHS England – Wessex Cardiothoracic Surgery webpage regularly to access up-to-date information relating to this vacancy and information about the recruitment process. You may also find the Medical Specialty Training website helpful in answering your query.

For any queries that cannot be answered by the methods above please contact: england.CTSurgeryRecruitment.wx@nhs.net

Listed below are the self-assessment questions that appear on the application form along with the possible responses to each question. Your responses to these self-assessment questions will determine your own score. You will need to provide evidence to substantiate your responses via the Self-Assessment portal; this evidence will be validated by a panel and used to derive your final validated score.

Any lack of evidence, or lack of clarity provided by applicants will lead to an amendment of the score. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide clear and unambiguous evidence for the process.

Applicants will be able to upload evidence as detailed in their application form between 10:00am on Monday 16 December 2024 and 10:00am on Tuesday 31 December 2024.

Full details of how to upload evidence will be provided by Friday 13 December 2024 so that you can start collecting and preparing your evidence but general guidance is below. It is imperative that you provide evidence for everything that you have cited on your application form as this evidence will be used to confirm the self-assessment score. Any discrepancies or missing evidence may result in your self-assessment score being downgraded.

The portfolio of evidence should be organised as follows:

• The content of the evidence portfolio must be in the same order as the domains in the application form.
• Evidence within each domain should be in chronological order.
• The evidence must be in English. Non-English documents must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
• The entire portfolio of evidence must be uploaded as a single PDF. Applications with multiple PDFs will not be scored and excluded from the application process.

The panel will only be able to assess the evidence you provide; they will not contact you to request additional evidence. You are therefore requested to provide all evidence in a clear format so that this can easily be identified and assessed.

The recruitment office is not able to advise you about which response you should select for any question. You must select the response you feel you will be able to justify to the panel, using the evidence you provide. Please note that no evidence can be submitted retrospectively. Evidence should not contain patient identifiable data.

• No evidence : 0
• Shortlisted or finalist for an award but not winner of an award / Certificate of merit, certificate of appreciation, runner-up etc. : 0
• One prize awarded for academic performance / One or more bursary(ies), grant(s) or fellowship(s) awarded for research or travel : 1
• Two or more prizes awarded for academic performance : 2
• Graduated from final year medical school amongst top 10% overall : 4
• Graduated from final year medical school ranked 1st overall / Graduate from medical school with gold medal : 6

• No evidence : 0
• Electives or clinical attachments in Cardiothoracic Surgery in own institution of 2 weeks or less : 0
• One elective or clinical attachment in Cardiothoracic Surgery in own institution of more than 2 weeks / One elective or clinical attachment in Cardiothoracic Surgery in non home institution of at least 2-week duration : 1
• One elective or clinical attachment in Cardiothoracic Surgery in non home institution of at least 4-week duration : 2
• Two or more separate electives or clinical attachments in Cardiothoracic Surgery in own institution of more than 2 weeks each : 3
• Two or more separate electives or clinical attachments in Cardiothoracic Surgery in non home institution of at least 4-week duration each : 5

• No evidence : 0
• MD as primary medical qualification / Registered for higher degree but not yet awarded : 0
• Higher degree awarded in a subject not directly related to Cardiothoracic Surgery (MSc, MS, MCh, MPhil, MD, DPhil, PhD) / Master in Education : 2
• Awarded master degree (MS, MCh, Mphil) with original research component directly related to Cardiothoracic Surgery : 4
• Awarded doctorate degree (MD, PhD, DPhil) with original research component directly related to Cardiothoracic Surgery : 6

• No evidence : 0
• USMLE / ECFMG : 0
• MRCP : 1
• MRCS Part A : 2
• Full MRCS : 4

• No evidence : 0
• 1 or 2 postgraduate certificate(s) awarded following part or full-time supervised study relevant to research or service delivery in Cardiothoracic Surgery. (Include PG Cert in Education) : 1
• 3 or more PG Cert. awarded following part or full-time supervised study relevant to research or service delivery in Cardiothoracic Surgery / 1 or 2 PG Dip(s) awarded following part or full-time supervised study relevant to research or service delivery in Cardiothoracic Surgery. (Include PG Cert or PG Dip in Education) : 2
• 3 or more PG Dip. awarded following part or full-time supervised study relevant to research or service delivery in Cardiothoracic Surgery : 3

• No evidence : 0
• Limited involvement in research e.g. data collection only : 0
• Substantive role in a completed research project (Not recognised elsewhere in application i.e. not yet presented or published) / Recipient of one or more research grant as co-applicant / Recipient of one or more personal research grant(s) as principal research grant holder with total value of less than £2,000 : 1
• Recipient of one or more personal research grant(s) as principal research grant holder with total value of £2,000 – £9,999 (Post-graduate – i.e. must be after first university degree and medical school) : 2
• Recipient of one or more personal research grant(s) as principal research grant holder with total value of £10,000 – £19,999 (Post-graduate – i.e. must be after first university degree and medical school) : 3
• Recipient of one or more personal research grant(s) as principal research grant holder with total value of £20,000 or more (Post-graduate – i.e. must be after first university degree and medical school) : 4

• No evidence : 0
• Participation in QI / clinical audit e.g. data collection -audit project commenced but not yet completed : 0
• Leadership in the design, conduct, and presentation of 1 to 3 completed QI / clinical audit project(s) registered with audit department OR Leadership and completion of 1 QI / audit cycle registered with audit department (i.e. completed both audit AND re-audit) : 1
• Leadership in the design, conduct, and presentation of 4 or more completed QI / clinical audit projects registered with audit department OR Leadership and completion of 2 different QI / audit cycles registered with audit department (i.e. completed both audit AND re-audit) : 2
• Leadership and completion of 3 or more different QI / audit cycles registered with audit department (i.e. completed both audit AND re-audit) : 3

• No evidence : 0
• Bursaries, grants and fellowships awarded for research or travel : 0
• Awards or prizes awarded by a local or regional peer group related to achievement in medicine or surgery : 1
• National award(s) reflecting outstanding achievement in medicine or surgery : 2
• International award(s) reflecting outstanding achievement in medicine or surgery : 3

• No evidence : 0
• Departmental presentations : 0
• Poster presentations at national or international meetings : 1
• Personally delivered 1 to 2 oral presentation(s) as the podium presenter at a national or international society involving a major personal commitment : 2
• Personally delivered 3 or more distinct oral presentation(s) as the podium presenter at a national or international society involving a major personal commitment : 3

• No evidence : 0
• Letter to editor / Abstract / E-comments / Pay to publish journal articles : 0
• Co-author for 1 to 4 peer-reviewed publications (listed in PubMed) or published book chapter(s) OR First author for 1 to 2 peer-reviewed publication (listed in PubMed). NB Joint first authorship would only be accepted and scored when it is clearly stated by the publishing journal : 1
• Co-author for 5 or more peer-reviewed publications (listed in PubMed) or published book chapter(s) OR Author or editor of a relevant textbook OR First author for 3 to 4 peer-reviewed publication (listed in PubMed). NB Joint first authorship would only be accepted and scored when it is clearly stated by the publishing journal : 2
• First author for 5 or more peer-reviewed publications (listed in PubMed). NB Joint first authorship would only be accepted and scored when it is clearly stated by the publishing journal : 3

• No evidence : 0
• Rota master or similar roles : 0
• Official role in local or regional committee work, project development, charity work etc. OR Official role in local or regional branch of a national body : 1
• Overall Chair, Secretary or other equivalent leadership role of a national or international body or society : 2

• No evidence : 0
• Ad hoc teaching commitment (i.e. less than monthly for at least 6 months duration) / Talks given to members of the public : 0
• Evidence of regular teaching commitment to clinical professionals e.g. medical students, nurses etc. (minimum frequency of monthly for at least 6 months duration) : 1
• Faculty of a course with evidence of a published programme AND formal participant feedback : 2
• Formal teaching role for 6 months or more e.g. anatomy demonstrator (minimum 50% WTE for at least 6 months duration) : 3
• Formal teaching role for 12 months or more e.g. anatomy demonstrator (minimum 50% WTE for at least 12 months duration) : 4

• No evidence : 0
• I have recognised achievements outside of medicine at a significant level that have not fitted into any other domain (Note: Examples include but not limited to representing country/county at sport, significant achievement in the field of performance arts. Supporting evidence required) : 1
• I have recognised achievements outside of medicine at a significant level within the last 3 years that have not fitted into any other domain (Note: Examples include but not limited to representing country/county at sport, significant achievement in the field of performance arts. Supporting evidence required) : 2