Training in genitourinary medicine from the specialist registrar's point of view: opportunities and facilities available across the UK and plans for future working.

In recent years training for specialist registrars (SpRs) in GU medicine has undergone a number of changes. In addition, the speciality in general is undergoing modernization and change and issues of workforce planning and consultant job availability have been of particular importance to SpRs. In March 2003 a postal survey of SpRs in the UK was undertaken to evaluate training, future career plans and working patterns. A 59% (69/117) response rate was achieved and overall most SpRs expressed satisfaction with their training. However, a number of concerns were raised with aspects of training, which are discussed in this paper. Nearly half of SpRs will consider working part time in the future and almost two-thirds are interested in job sharing. This is the first survey of its kind in GU medicine and the results are informative to all involved with SpR training programmes and workforce planning in the speciality.