Agreement between RCOG and European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO)

Details of agreement between RCOG and ESGO

ESGO training is a minimum of 24 months of gynaecological oncology training.

To be eligible for ESGO individual accreditation the doctor would need to spend a minimum of 12 months in an ESGO recognised subspecialty training centre for gynaecological oncology, follow the ESGO gynaecological oncology curriculum (PDF) and register their subspecialty training with ESGO prospectively.

1. Doctors are able to achieve ESGO individual accreditation if the doctor has undertaken 12 months of subspecialty training in a UK gynaecologcial oncology subspecialty training centre recognised by the RCOG or 12 months in an ESGO recognised gynaecological oncology subspecialty training centre. For these doctors there are three options to achieve ESGO accreditation:
   1. The doctor undertakes 12 months of subspecialty training in an ESGO recognised gynaecological oncology centre.
   2. The doctor undertakes 12 months of subspecialty training in a UK gynaecologcial oncology centre recognised by the RCOG. In order to accommodate the doctor, the UK RCOG recognised gynaecological oncology centre must not have a RCOG sub-specialty trainee in post undergoing surgical training in their approved training programme; e.g. must have a gap within their approved centre.
   3. The doctor undertakes a combination of subspecialty training in the UK (any gynaecological oncology cancer centre) and the ESGO accredited centre outside the UK to meet the 12-month criterion. This must be approved by ESGO prior to starting the training.
   4. The remainder of the 24-month programme can be undertaken outside of these accredited gynaecological oncology centres.
2. Doctors who are resident in the UK or have the right to work in the UK and who are not undertaking RCOG approved subspecialty training are able to achieve ESGO accreditation if the doctor undertakes 12 months of subspecialty training in an ESGO recognised gynaecological oncology centre outside the UK and 12 months of subspecialty training in a UK gynaecologcial oncology centre recognised by the RCOG. In order to accommodate the doctor, the UK RCOG recognised gynaecological oncology centre must not have a RCOG sub-specialty trainee in post undergoing surgical training; e.g. must have a gap within the approved centre.
   
   
3. A doctor who has undertaken RCOG subspecialty training in gynaecological oncology in the UK, who has been appointed in open competition to a RCOG approved subspecialty training post, and who holds the RCOG certificate o subspecialist accreditation for gynaecological oncology can apply for ESGO individual accreditation on successful completion of RCOG subspecialty training in Gynaecological Oncology.

ESGO accreditation does not support doctors to apply for registration for CCT and subsequent entry onto the UK Specialist Register with subspecialty training in Gynaecological Oncology with the GMC.

This MoU does not include any responsibility by either party regarding the clinical competence and practice of individual doctors undertaking training in an accredited or recognised training post or programme.

Duration of the MoU

The collaboration described in this MoU will start on 1 January 2021 and end on 31 December 2023. After that time, a new MoU can be signed, after review of the published RCOG criteria for subspecialty training centre accreditation by the ESGO Education Committee.