Check the Person Specification paperwork available. This is available through the HEE Specialty Training Website:
Check the ST4 Person-Specification paperwork available. This is available through the RCP application website here.
Measure yourself and your CV against the ‘Essential’ and ‘Desirable’ criteria.
Market yourself and your interest in the specialty.
It is harder, nowadays, to gain a standalone training post in a hospice, which would give you the ideal experience of what a career in palliative medicine involves and whether you really can commit yourself to it. Nevertheless, look for other opportunities where you can link up with specialists in palliative medicine. For example, as a post-foundation doctor, try to organize a ‘taster-session’ during your training with a local hospice. Why not enter prizes organized by the Association of Palliative Medicine? There are essay prizes for undergraduates or audit prizes for junior doctors.
Note the application deadlines and do not give up!
If you are unsuccessful after both rounds of recruitment, seek advice from your deanery’s training programme director for palliative medicine. If your heart is set on the specialty, consider a non-training grade hospice post, which would give you valuable clinical experience in the specialty as well as demonstrate your commitment.