Higher Specialist Training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

HST: THE FINAL STEP TOWARDS BECOMING AN OBSTETRICIAN/GYNAECOLOGIST

Higher Specialist Training (HST) in Obstetrics and Gynaecology is a five-year programme completed in Specialist Registrar (SpR) posts.

On satisfactory completion of HST, you will receive a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST) which allows you to enter the Specialist Division of the Register with the Medical Council.

This means you can apply for consultant posts.

Many doctors spend some time working abroad and building up their portfolio of research, audits and publications before becoming a consultant.

However, you will have met the core requirement for consultant appointment, which is registration on the Specialist Division of the Register with the Medical Council.

To find out what HST in Obstetrics and Gynaecology involves download the curriculum.

Entry Requirements

You must have:

a certificate of completion of Basic Specialist Training (BST) in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
achieved MRCPI in Obstetrics and Gynaecology or MRCOG or evidence of an equivalent qualification
at least 36 months’ experience in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

What to Expect

Your earlier years of HST will be focused on gaining general exposure to Obstetrics and Gynaecology under appropriate supervision. More hands-on experience will come as your confidence grows and you will be encouraged to take on a greater degree of responsibility and independence.

Your HST programme will incorporate the following core elements:

Exposure to Obstetrics and Gynaecology practice in a variety of settings
Exposure to Gynaecology in a variety of hospital settings, including stand-alone maternity hospitals and academic teaching hospitals

Your first two years of HST will be spent in full-time clinical SpR posts in Ireland. After that, you can continue to train in full-time posts in Ireland, or you can start a period of full-time research or develop a subspecialty interest.

You can apply for up to 12 months’ credit towards your Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST) for research undertaken during HST. This is optional but encouraged.

During the annual allocation of SpR posts, we will endeavor to be as flexible as possible, within the confines of your specialty requirements, to allow you to develop a subspecialty interest. You can choose one of the following special interest modules in your fourth or fifth year of HST:

Gynaecology
Maternal Medicine
Urogynaecology/urodynamics
Labor ward

What Do I Need to Do in Addition to Clinical Training?

In addition to supervised clinical training in the hospital, you will attend a number of mandatory courses and study days,

These are designed to help you develop professionally and acquire the non-clinical skills and knowledge needed to provide excellent patient care.


Duration	Five years
Job title/grade of doctor	Specialist Registrar (SpR)
Average intake each year	12
Exams to pass	None
Mandatory educational courses to be completed as part of HST	• Minimal Access Skills for Obstetrics and Gynaecology (To be completed in first year of HST) – Run by RCPI • Ethics I: Professionalism – Run by RCPI • Ethics II: Law – Run by RCPI • Ethics III: Research – Run by RCPI • Ethics IV: Obstetrics & Gynaecology – Run by RCPI • Mastering Communications – Run by RCPI • Performing Audit – Run by RCPI • Health Research Methods – An Introduction – Run by RCPI • Leadership in Clinical Practice (To be completed in third year of HST or later) – Run by RCPI
Study days to attend	Four per year
Training body	Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, RCPI

Catherine Corcoran

Programme Coordinator, Obstetrics and Gynaecology training programmes

Contact Catherine for queries about Basic Specialist Training and Higher Specialist Training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology