Run-through training in Histopathology in Wales will comply with the Curriculum for Specialist Training in Histopathology and Related Subspecialties as prepared by the Royal College of Pathologists and approved by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board, and is directed by the Welsh Histopathology Training Committee. 

All four stages of the training programme will be delivered in hospitals in South Wales, and trainees who successfully complete stage A (year 1) of training will normally proceed to stage B and beyond within Wales. The training programme is based at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, with rotations to Llandough Hospital in Cardiff, the Royal Glamorgan Hospital near Llantrisant, and Morriston and Singleton Hospitals in Swansea. Other hospitals in South Wales may be incorporated in the future, but these will all be within a 40-mile radius of Cardiff. 

The Welsh Run-through Training programme comprises: 

1. Clinical experience of all aspects of diagnostic histopathology, cytopathology autopsy practice, paediatric and neuropathology in the laboratory and post mortem room at the University Hospital of Wales 
2. Departmental clinicopathological and audit meetings 
3. A structured training course in organ specific diagnostic histopathology based on slide seminars led by and lectures 
4. Placements at Llandough and the Royal Glamorgan Hospitals and Swansea NHS Trust for clinical experience in a DGH setting, in gynaecological cytopathology, (at the Welsh Cytology Training School in Llandough Hospital) in pulmonary pathology and haematopathology and, at Swansea, in neuro-oncology, haematopathology, renal, cardiothoracic and maxillofacial pathology. 
5. Programmes of invited lectures and seminars, both within the Department and elsewhere in Cardiff University and the University College Swansea. 
6. Opportunities for developing a special interest through independent study and research and through specialist "elective" attachments 
7. Participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in pathology 

In addition, trainees will receive training in health and safety awareness, information technology skills, and in technical aspects of laboratory practice, including trimming of specimens, section cutting and staining, histochemistry (including immunohistochemistry), electron microscopy and molecular diagnostics. The Postgraduate Department will also organise "generic" training in management, medical education, audit, clinical effectiveness and ethical issues. 

Elective attachments are available for trainees to obtain concentrated experience in particular areas, either because they may have a special interest in the field or because they feel that they require more time to consolidate their learning. These are available in: 

1. Cytopathlogy (based at Llandough Hospital) 
2. Neuropathology (UHW)
3. Paediatric pathology (UHW)
4. Renal pathology (UHW)
5. Haematopathology (at Llandough or Swansea)
6. Pulmonary pathology (at Llandough Hospital)
7. Breast screening pathology (at UHW, Llandough or Royal Glamorgan Hospital)
8. Forensic pathology (UHW)
9. Molecular pathology (UHW) 

Trainees will be supervised by Departmental Consultant Pathologists under the direction of a designated Educational Supervisor. Progress will be monitored through the use of training and learning records, informal 6 monthly review meetings with the Educational Supervisor, and formal annual RITA assessments by the Specialty Training Committee. 

The major element of the training programme is comprehensive practical experience of clinical surgical pathology, cytopathology, and autopsy pathology with consultant supervision. Trainees will be attached to each of the training hospitals and during these attachments they will contribute to the service work of the departments, to a level commensurate with their level of experience and proficiency. This will include participation, when appropriate, in multidisciplinary team meetings and audit. Extended out of hours working may also be required for the provision of the service; currently all training posts are banded at 1B. 

There is a total of 18 substantive training posts in Wales. 

All of the laboratories in the Welsh Training Programme have designated facilities for trainees including double-headed microscopes, computers that access laboratory information management systems and the internet, and a comprehensive library of books and journals. Each hospital also has dedicated postgraduate facilities for medical trainees.