2010 SHO Matching Scheme – Preference Forms available 24 February 2010
The SHO Matching Scheme is the process whereby RCPI matches applicants to one- and two-year SHO rotation programmes in General Internal Medicine, Paediatrics and Histopathology. This is an annual recruitment process that runs from January to April each year. All rotation programmes on offer are approved for Basic Specialist Training (BST; formerly ‘General Professional Training’) and run from 1 July 2010; both one- and two-year rotation programmes are available.
The closing date for applications was Friday 29 January 2010.
All verified applicants are to be notified of shortlisting results by email on 24 February 2010. Candidates who are shortlisted for interview are required to complete a preference form. The preference form is used to match candidates to their highest available preference of hospital or rotation, and is available on this website between 24 February and 16 March 2010. Please see below for instructions.
The deadline for submitting preference forms is 5.00pm Tuesday 16 March 2010.
Preference Form – General Information
If you have been shortlisted, you are required to submit your preference form by 5.00pm Tuesday 16 March 2010. This form is used to match you to your highest possible preference of hospital or rotation programme. You will not be matched if you do not submit your Preference Form correctly.
The Preference Form is available on this website between 24 February and 16 March 2010. Please read the below instructions before you complete the preference form.
General Internal Medicine
Candidates rank programmes (i.e. hospitals or groups of hospitals), as opposed to individual rotations (i.e. a combination of SHO posts). If you are matched to a programme in General Internal Medicine, your primary teaching hospital is responsible for placing you in a rotation. This means that if you receive an offer in the first or second round of matching for this specialty, you will not know the exact content of your rotation.
Paediatrics
Candidates rank individual rotations and can see the content of each rotation. If you are matched, you will know the exact content of your rotation. The full list of paediatric rotations is available to download here.
There are 34 rotations in paediatrics. If you have been shortlisted for paediatrics, you are advised to print the list of rotations and decide on your order of ranking before you access the preference form. Please note, these rotations may be subject to change – you will be notified if your rotation changes.
Histopathology
Most programmes in Histopathology are linked to another programme (e.g. Beaumont and Mater Misericordiae). This means that if you are matched to a Histopathology programme (other than Galway), you will rotate to another hospital in your second year. Programmes listed on the preference form refer to the first-year placement. The links between Histopathology programmes are as follows:
Beaumont Hospital & Mater Misericordiae University Hospital
Cork University Hospital & Waterford Regional Hospital
St James’s Hospital & St Vincent’s University Hospital
Galway University Hospital does not involve rotations to another hospital.
If you are shortlisted by more than one specialty
If you are shortlisted by more than one specialty, the preference forms for each specialty open together on the same screen and you will need to complete your preferences for each specialty at the same time.
How to complete the Preference Form
The Preference Form in completed in four steps:
1. The preference form is accessed by clicking on the link below. Enter your application number.
2. Based on the results of the short-listing process, the programmes/rotations available to you appear automatically. Select which programmes/rotations you want to include on your preference form – i.e. if you do not wish to be considered for a particular programme or hospital you can exclude it. To increase your chances of receiving an offer, you are advised to select all programmes/rotations available to you.
3. Click ‘Next’. The next screen displays all of the programmes/rotations you selected. Indicate your order of preference by entering a number against each option. 1 is your highest preference. Be careful not to skip or repeat a number or your form will not be accepted. If you have been shortlisted for more than one specialty, your preferences are recorded independently of other specialties. You do not need to indicate a preference for any one specialty and can receive offers for all three specialties.
4. When you are happy with your order of preferences, click on ‘Submit Preferences’. You will be asked to confirm that you have finished. Please note, once you have submitted your preference form you cannot change your order of preferences. Your preferences will be automatically submitted to the RCPI. You will receive an automatic email acknowledging receipt of your preference form and confirming the order of your preferences.
Click here to access the 2010 Preference Form
Interviews
Interviews for shortlisted candidates are being held on the following dates:
1 March Monday - Letterkenny
2 March Tuesday - Western Regional Programmes (Sligo, Mayo, Portiuncula, Roscommon)
3 March Wednesday - Galway University Hospital
4 March Thursday - Waterford
5 March Friday - Cork
6 March Saturday - Dublin teaching hospitals: Beaumont,Connolly Hospital, Mater Misericordiae, South Dublin / mid-Leinster, St Vincent’s, Trinity Scheme
8 March Monday - Midlands (Tullamore and Mullingar)
9 March Tuesday - South East; Columcille’s-Wexford
11 March Thursday - Histopathology
12 March Friday - Paediatrics
Following interviews, first round offers will be emailed to candidates on Friday 20 March.
Appraisal Forms
You are required to obtain two Candidate Appraisal Forms per specialty: one from your current supervising consultant and one from another consultant with whom you have worked.
If you are applying to more than one specialty, you must ask your supervising consultants to complete the relevant form for each specialty (they are different forms). You cannot submit an Appraisal Form covering a period spent in a supernumerary post or clinical attachment.
You are then required to bring a copy of both appraisal forms to each interview for which you have been short-listed. You should photocopy the original appraisal forms returned to you by your supervising consultants and keep the original copies in a safe place. Once you give your appraisal forms to your interview panel, they will not be returned and you will not be able to request them for subsequent interviews.
You are also required to send a copy of your appraisal forms to RCPI. Your Appraisal Forms must reach RCPI by 5.00pm Tuesday 16 March 2010. Appraisal Forms may be faxed to 00353 (0)1 672 4707 or posted to RCPI, Frederick House, 19 South Frederick Street, Dublin 2.
Appraisal Forms are available here to download and print:
General Internal Medicine Appraisal Form
Paediatrics Appraisal Form
Histopathology Appraisal Form
Registration with the Irish Medical Council – Important Information for Applicants *Updated 18/01/10*
All applicants must be eligible for registration in the trainee specialist division of the Medical Council of Ireland on 1 July 2010. You must submit your current certificate of registration (a certified copy), or evidence that your application for registration has been processed or is in progress. We will only accept the following documentation as evidence of registration/application in progress:
• A certified copy of your current certificate of registration with the Medical Council of Ireland. Interns currently working in Ireland should submit their certificate of internship registration.
• OR a certified copy of a letter from the Medical Council stating: The Medical Council has decided that your application and documents permit you to apply for Trainee Specialist registration under the provisions of Section 11 of the Medical Practitioners Act, 2007.
If you are already in possession of this letter, you must submit it along with the rest of your application by Friday 29th January 2010. Otherwise, you must submit a copy of this letter to RCPI before 5.00pm Friday 12th March 2010. You are advised to follow up on any outstanding documentation with the Medical Council as a matter of urgency.
• OR a printed copy of an email from the Registration section in the Medical Council of Ireland acknowledging receipt of your application for trainee specialist registration. Your printed copy must not be altered in any way and must include the email address from which it was sent. The Medical Council has agreed to acknowledge applications by email, however you are advised to state on your application if you need this email.
If you submit this email, instead of the above documents, your application for registration must be approved/confirmed by 5.00pm Friday 12th March 2010. (It should be noted that first time applications for trainee specialist registration will take between four to six weeks to be processed.) Please bear this date in mind if you have any exams to sit in relation to your application. If you cannot submit evidence that you are permitted to apply for Trainee Specialist registration by 5.00pm Friday 12th March 2010, you will not go forward to the first round of matching
If your qualifications are not recognised under EU Directive 2005/36/EC, please note that first-time registration with the Medical Council of Ireland can take up to a year. If your application for registration is not already in progress or complete, you may not be able to apply to the SHO Matching Scheme this year. Please see the Medical Council of Ireland website for more information - http://www.medicalcouncil.ie/registration/firsttime.asp
• Applicants who are currently in their F1 year in the UK may submit a certified copy of their General Medical Council certificate of registration. All other UK graduates, who have completed their internship/F1 year, must be registered with the Medical Council of Ireland. If you are not currently working in the Republic of Ireland, you must submit a certified copy of a letter from the Medical Council stating: The Medical Council has decided that your application and documents permit you to apply for Trainee Specialist registration under the provisions of Section 11 of the Medical Practitioners Act, 2007.
All queries regarding registration with the Medical Council of Ireland should be directed to the registration section in the Medical Council of Ireland.
SHO Rotation Programmes on offer for 2010
You can apply to three specialties – General Internal Medicine, Paediatrics and Histopathology. You can receive one offer per specialty, but you can only accept one offer outright.
The following rotation programmes are on offer:
Programmes on offer in General Internal Medicine
Beaumont Hospital, Dublin
Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin
Cork Medical SHO Rotation Programme
Galway University Hospital & Merlin Park Hospital, Galway
Letterkenny General Hospital, Donegal
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin
Mayo General Hospital / Roscommon General Hospital/ Galway University Hospital
Midland Regional Hospitals (Mullingar and Tullamore), Westmeath and Offaly
Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe / Roscommon General Hospital / Galway University Hospital
Sligo General Hospital / Galway University Hospital
Sligo General Hospital
South Dublin / mid-Leinster (Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Tallaght, Naas General Hospital, Peamount Hospital)
South East (Kilkenny, Clonmel, Wexford)
St Columcille's Hospital, Dublin / Wexford General Hospital
St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin
The Trinity Scheme (St. James's Hospital / Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Tallaght), Dublin
Waterford Regional Hospital
Important - From 1 July 2010, all trainees in general internal medicine must be on a one- or two-year SHO rotation programme in order to receive credit for Basic Specialist Training (BST) in general internal medicine. It will no longer be possible to obtain BST credit by working in stand-alone SHO posts or registrar posts. Please see here for more information.
Programmes on offer in Paediatrics
The National Paediatric SHO Rotation Programme involves posts in two, three or four of the following hospitals:
Cavan General Hospital
Children's University Hospital Temple St
Coombe Women's Hospital
Cork University Hospital
Letterkenny General Hospital
Mayo General Hospital
Mercy University Hospital, Cork
Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar
Midwestern Regional Hospital, Limerick
National Children's Hospital (AMNCH), Tallaght
National Maternity Hospital
Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda
Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe
Rotunda Hospital
Sligo General Hospital
Galway University Hospital
Waterford Regional Hospital
All paediatric rotation programmes include at least 6 months of Neonatology in an approved Neonatal Unit.
For detailed information on the available rotations please see here.
Programmes on offer in Histopathology
The National Histopathology SHO Rotation Programme involves posts in the following hospitals:
Beaumont Hospital
Cork University Hospital
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital
St James’s Hospital
St Vincent’s University Hospital
Galway University Hospital
This list is still to be confirmed. A more detailed description of the National Histopathology SHO Rotation Programme will be available as soon as possible.
Overview of Application and Matching Process
Applications are checked and verified by RCPI, then circulated to the participating programmes (hospitals) for short-listing. Programmes award marks to applicants for academic achievements, as indicated on the application form. The results of the short-listing process will be circulated to applicants by email on 24 February 2010.
Interviews for short-listed applicants will take place on separate dates between 1 and 12 March 2010 (see below). Applicants who attend for interview are required to bring two sets of documentation (which will not be returned):
1. Two appraisal forms, one from their current supervising consultant and one from another consultant with whom they have worked
2. A copy of their exam transcript from medical school
Short-listed candidates will be required to complete a preference form, on which they rank rotation programmes in order of their preference. There is a separate preference form for each specialty (general internal medicine, paediatrics and histopathology). The preference form will be available on this website from 24 February 2010.
Following interviews, candidates will be informed if they have been matched to a rotation programme on 31 March 2010. Candidates can receive an offer from all three specialties, however they can only accept one. There are two rounds of offers. Any offers rejected by candidates in the first round are available to unmatched candidates in the second round.
Candidates who receive a first round offer can choose to be included in the second round, to see if they can be matched to a higher preference.
The process concludes after the second round of offers. The first and second round results will be sent by email on 31 March and 16 April 2010 respectively.
In general internal medicine, programmes (i.e. hospitals) are responsible for placing successful candidates in specific rotations, so if you are matched to a programme in general internal medicine you will not know the exact content of your rotation until it is confirmed by your programme director.
Rules for accepting first round offers
There are a number of options for accepting or rejecting first round offers:
1. Accept: Accept the offer for this specialty. You will not be considered in the second round.
2. Accept but be considered for Round 2: You will go forward to the second round of matching. Any offers rejected by candidates in the first round are available to candidates in the second round. If you are matched to a higher preference in the second round you will automatically lose your first round place. If a higher preference is not available, you will keep your first round place.
3. Reject but be considered for Round 2: You will go forward to the second round of matching. Any offers rejected by candidates in the first round are available to candidates in the second round. If you are matched to a higher preference in the second round you will automatically lose your first round place. If a higher preference is not available, you will lose your first round place and you will not receive any further offers.
4. Reject: Withdraw completely from this specialty.
If you receive a first round offer for more than one specialty please read the following rules carefully:
• You may choose to “Accept” an offer for one specialty only.
• If you choose to “Accept” an offer, the only option available for offers in all other specialties is “Reject”.
• You may choose “Accept but be considered for Round 2” for an offer in one specialty only.
• You cannot combine “Accept but be considered for Round 2” and “Accept”.
• If you choose “Accept but be considered for Round 2”, you may choose “Reject” and/or “Reject but be considered for Round 2” for offers in other specialties.
• You may choose “Reject but be considered for Round 2” for more than one specialty.
• If you choose “Reject but be considered for Round 2”, you may also choose “Accept but be considered for Round 2” and or “Reject” for offers in other specialties
• You may choose “Reject” for offers in all specialties.
There are two rounds of offers. Any offers rejected by candidates in the first round are available to unmatched candidates in the second round. The process concludes after the second round of offers. The first and second round results will be sent by email on 31 March 2010 and 16 April 2010 respectively.
Important Dates for 2010
Online application form available to candidates - Wednesday 6th January 2010
Closing date for applications - Friday 29th January 2010
Short listing results emailed to candidates - Wednesday 24th February 2010
Preference Form available to candidates - Wednesday 24th February 2010
Interviews - 1st March to 12th March 2010
Deadline for submitting Preference Forms - Tuesday 16th March 2010
First round offers emailed to candidates - Wednesday 31st March 2010
Deadline for accepting first round offer - Tuesday 6th April 2010
Second round offers emailed to candidates - Friday 16th April 2010
Deadline for accepting second round offer - Tuesday 20th April 2010
Conditions of Participation for Candidates
Before you apply please read the conditions of participation for candidates.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the 2010 SHO matching scheme please email SHOmatch@rcpi.ie or phone Aoife Ní Mhaitiú on 01 8639 711, or Jessica Ramsey on 01 8639 715.
Our Postal Address:
BST Office
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
Frederick House
19 South Frederick Street
Dublin 2
Ireland