Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery (or neurological surgery) is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system. Surgery often covers the full range of neurological disorders. The two main specialist centers for Neurosurgery in Ireland are Beaumont Hospital, Dublin and Cork University Hospital, Cork.

The training pathway to becoming a Neurosurgeon in Ireland commences at Core Surgical Training ST1 and completes at Specialty Training ST8. Within these 8 years of training a trainee will undergo Core Surgical Training in ST1 & ST2. Core Training is a common trunk of training which is undertaken by all surgical trainees, irrespective of their future specialty aspiration. It is intended to introduce trainees to the principles of surgery in general and give them the knowledge, skills and attitudes which are required by all surgical specialities in preparation for Specialty Training (ST3- ST8).

Throughout the two years trainees are assessed via the Competency Assessment and Performance Appraisal (CAPA) process.

ST3 is entry level into (Higher) Specialty Training which completes at ST8. This is based on on-going progression assessment (CAPA), successful completion of the MRCS exam and specialty interview (ST3-ST8).