Those who are undertaking approved surgical training in Ireland are known as Specialist Registrars (SpRs). Guidance on the arrangements for SpR training is set out in A Manual of Higher Surgical Training (also known as the Pink Book) and A Guide to Specialist Registrar Training (also known as the Orange Book).

SpR trainees are expected to use eLogbook to record their operations. At the end of training Irish trainees receive a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST).

The Irish training system is in the process of changing. For details of the new system, which began in 2013, see here.

Higher Surgical/Specialist Training (HST) Information

Urology is a surgical specialty that deals with the treatment of conditions involving the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs.

Specialists in the field of urology are called urologists or urological surgeons; healthcare professionals who are trained to diagnose, detect and treat disorders and diseases of the genitourinary tract.

Traditionally Urology has had a smaller number of trainees compared to other specialties with training concentrated to 8 hospitals in Ireland. One of the major benefits of urology training in Ireland is that a trainee will rotate through at least 4 of the 8 major academic urology units during the higher surgical training scheme.

As a Urology Trainee on a specialist/higher surgical training scheme one gets the opportunity to not only learn core urology procedures but to also gain experience in the various urology sub-specialties from experienced trainers. With an excellent annual meeting nationally, trainees have the opportunity to present original research.

Research projects from Irish urology departments are also routinely presented at international meetings such as the European Association of Urology as well as the American Association of Urology. Publications from Irish trainees in major impact factor Urology journals are also not uncommon.

Training Pathway: