Wessex

Wessex enjoys an enviable position on the South Coast Riviera between Chesil Beach in West Dorset and Chichester Harbour in Hampshire. It includes Poole Harbour, the New Forrest, the South Downs and the Isle of Wight yet it’s possible to live around 45 minutes from all main hospitals. Generally trainees get their first choice of hospital each year.

It particularly suits outdoor types; the current batch of trainees enjoy, variously, shooting, sailing, trail running, golf, kayaking, rearing chickens and competitive pub-lunching. It’s ideal for families too and there are excellent state & independent schools scattered throughout the region.

There are good transport links; Winchester is a popular place to live & socialise and is around an hour from Waterloo and many European destinations are with a couple of hours hop from Southampton Airport.

Our hospitals vary in size from very small to very big and cover a good range of specialities from paediatrics to spines, major trauma, pelvic & acetabular surgery and revision hubs. There are lots of opportunities to get involved with research and teaching via the University of Portsmouth and Southampton Medical School.

We have an excellent success rate at FRCS thanks to many great trainers, twice yearly mock exams and regular teaching. Most trainees choose to stay in the region throughout their consultant careers – a testament to the joys of living and working in Wessex.