Nuclear medicine | PHST Recruitment - Full, comprehensive guidance on applying to HST posts

Specialties

Nuclear medicine

This page contains information on the specialty of nuclear medicine, a higher medical specialty recruiting to HST-level vacancies.

Please note - nuclear medicine is not participating in the national Physician HST recruitment process but is recruited alongside clinical radiology which is coordinated by London and KSS (LaKSS) Recruitment.

The Nuclear Medicine Specialty

The core role of a nuclear medicine physician is to lead and develop a clinical nuclear medicine services working as part of a multidisciplinary team. Diagnostic functional image protocolling and reporting, administration of radionuclide therapies, collaboration with referring clinicians and other team members at multidisciplinary meetings, and medical care of patients with a broad range of clinical problems within a largely outpatient setting are key aspects of the role. Interested candidates can supplement their local experience by visits to training programmes, attending taster days in the specialty and nuclear medicine careers events.

Nuclear Medicine is a constantly evolving and innovative specialty, covering the widest breadth of pathologies extending from neonates to geriatrics. The relatively recent development of hybrid imaging with SPECT/CT, PET/CT and PET/MRI combining functional imaging using radionuclides and radiological anatomic imaging requires Nuclear Medicine Physicians to have skills in both Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Radiology. Since 2014 Nuclear Medicine Physicians have therefore been dual trained in both Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Radiology, and since 2021 the training has been recognised as a formal dual CCT programme.

The range of diseases which could be successfully treated with radioisotopes was previously relatively limited but this situation has changed with a recent acceleration in the development of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic radioactive tracers, and the combination of these as theragnostics, which can be used in the diagnosis, staging and tailored management of diseases. The Nuclear Medicine community predict a considerable surge in demand for Nuclear Medicine treatments and the number of Nuclear Medicine physicians who are uniquely skilled to provide these.

Nuclear medicine trainee characteristics

Nuclear medicine will particularly suit trainees who have:

a sound grasp of general medicine and well-developed clinical skills
an interest in diagnostic imaging and treatment via molecular targeting
an interest in working with cutting edge technologies
scientific curiosity
good communication skills, leadership skills
enthusiasm for life-long learning
a wish to work within a vibrant, stimulating and diverse specialty.

Eligibility

As nuclear medicine physician consultants may run outpatient therapy clinics and may be the admitting consultant for inpatients undergoing therapy, trainees require an advanced level of clinical acumen. The entry requirements for the programme are two years of Internal Medicine Training (IMT) or three years of Acute Care Common Stem – Internal Medicine (ACCS-IM) with full MRCP(UK), or three years of Level 1 Paediatrics with full MRCPCH or two years of Core Surgical Training with full MRCS, or equivalent.

Nuclear medicine training

Nuclear Medicine training will be in a dual CCT programme with Clinical Radiology in an indicative six year higher specialty training programme. The training programme will comprise three years of training focussed on Clinical Radiology (80% of the training time) during which the majority of FRCR will be completed. The second period of training (indicative three years) will focus on Nuclear Medicine for 80% of the training time and trainees will complete a postgraduate diploma in Nuclear Medicine which is the specialty knowledge based assessment. This is provided by Brighton and Sussex Medical School and is an online (distance learning) course.

This training pathway will therefore deliver dual training in Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Radiology and trainees will be eligible for a CCT in both specialties.

Nuclear Medicine trainees tend to be based at a single trust for the majority of their Nuclear Medicine training – but may rotate to other hospitals for additional experience for example in paediatric nuclear medicine, cardiothoracic nuclear medicine and specialised therapy attachments where these are not available locally. Nuclear Medicine Physician trainees will join Clinical Radiology trainees in the local Clinical Radiology training programme.

Entry to specialist register and consultant opportunities

Upon confirmation of successful completion of training in both Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Radiology, trainees will be eligible for CCT in both Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Radiology.

NHS consultant appointments to Nuclear Medicine in recent years have broadly matched numbers completing the training scheme. There are opportunities to work as a consultant on a less than full time basis and to organise a job that focuses on your special interests once established in a post.

Further information