The RCOG and VSO Fellowship scheme offers UK trainees one-year placements working to improve obstetric care in developing countries. Obstetrics and Gynaecology trainees from ST5 (SpR year 3) and up can take part. As a RCOG/VSO Fellow, you spend one year working with a VSO partner organisation: strengthening services, teaching and training. You will offer invaluable support to the local community and gain experience of challenging and rare clinical situations. Past Fellows say there is real scope to develop independent management skills. You’ll have the mentorship of a UK obstetrician and in-country senior doctor.
Fellowships are OOPE (Out of Programme Experience) without time counting towards CCT. The prospective support of the Deanery School of O&G and the Postgraduate Dean are required, but you do not need to seek approval from PMETB.
Click here for further advice about working ‘out of programme’.
VSO offers you the placement and covers all costs and provides accommodation, volunteering allowance, and health insurance – you can be a Fellow with NHS pensions protected too. The RCOG sources UK and in-country mentors. In the past four trainees have worked in Kenya and Indonesia.
For further information on volunteer placements, please visit the VSO website. Questions? Contact VSO on enquiry@vso.org.uk, or 020 8780 7500.