Stroke medicine

There are two main pathways open to training in stroke medicine. Any trainees already appointed to a group 1 specialty may apply to do stroke training. Interviews for available posts are normally held in January. 

A pilot programme for single accreditation in general internal medicine coupled to sub-specialty stroke medicine is starting in 2024. Programmes may be available in regions throughout the UK. They would comprise two years of GIM and a year of stroke. This would mean successful applicants could go from completion of IM-stage 1 to CCT after a further three years of training. Rotations would comprise two yearsof GIM and a year of stroke. They could be completed in any order but it is most likely that the middle or final year would be stroke medicine. 

Recruitment to these programmes will start in the second round of 2024 recruitment and the other tabs in this area of the website relate to the application and interview process. Applicants must have ompleted IM stage 1 or have an alternatice certificate by the time of interview. 

If you are looking to apply to a sub-specialty programme in stroke medicine, this area of the website contains detailed information to help you. This covers recruitment to UK training programmes in England and Wales; there is a separate programme, available to any UK trainee, for those who wish to train in stroke medicine in Scotland.

Stroke medicine training is only to current higher physician specialty trainees who meet the eligibility criteria.

Upon satisfactory completion of training in stroke medicine and the parent specialty, trainees will be eligible to have the sub-specialty included in their entry in the GMC’s Specialist Register, alongside the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in their main specialty; for more information on certification please see the JRCPTB website.

If you are considering applying to stroke medicine, it is strongly recommended that you speak to your current training programme director to discuss your plans and the effect it will have on your training.

• Am I eligible? – key information about the eligibility criteria.
• Planning your application – including the timeline, vacancy numbers, contact information and further opportunities after the national recruitment round.
• Applying – where and how to apply and information about completing the application form.
• Interview – the structure and content of the interview, how you will be scored and appointability determined.
• Offers and beyond – choosing your programme preferences, how and when offers will be made, responding to offers and employment for those accepting an offer.
• About stroke medicine – including summary information about training in stroke medicine, where to go for more information and data relating to the sub-specialty

There is one main round of national recruitment to stroke medicine in 2025:

• Applications – open at 10am on Thursday 14 November 2024 and close at 4pm on Thursday 5 December 2024, for programmes starting from August to December 2025.
• Interview – all interviews will take place on Wednesday 22 January 2025.

The planning your application section has a fuller timetable and information about further opportunities after the national recruitment round.

If you cannot find the answer to anything about stroke medicine recruitment on our website, the Physician Specialty Recruitment Office runs a helpdesk which can be contacted with any queries. Normally, queries will be responded to within 48 hours (excluding bank holidays and weekends).

For help with any queries, please visit the Lase PGMDE support portal: https://lasepgmdesupport.hee.nhs.uk/support/home 

Best wishes, and good luck with your application,

Dr Philip Bright
Clinical Lead for the Physician Specialty Recruitment Office