Prepare for the 2026 Palliative Medicine ST4 Interview with Structured, Specialty-Specific Practice Questions

“I was successful at interview and the scenarios were very similar to those on the Medibuddy website. The information on Medibuddy was really useful for interview preparation.”

“I wanted to say thank you for your wonderful site. I got my top ranked post and I scored highly in all stations.”

Securing a Palliative Medicine ST4 position has become significantly more competitive. NHS England Medical Hub data shows the applicant-to-post ratio more than doubling over three cycles, from 1.04 in 2022 to 2.34 in 2025 (136 applications for 58 posts). Combined with the interview now carrying 80% of the total ranking score, performing well on the day is decisive.

The Palliative Medicine ST4 interview tests structured clinical reasoning, communication under pressure, ethical and legal literacy, and your readiness to carry the medical registrar role alongside palliative work. Focused preparation on these areas is what separates top-scoring candidates from the rest.

How do I prepare for my Palliative Medicine ST4 interview?

Effective preparation focuses on two areas: Knowledge and Delivery.

You need the underlying clinical and ethical knowledge — symptom control, capacity and best interests, withdrawal of treatment, prognostic uncertainty, complex family dynamics — and you need to communicate it clearly in a few minutes per question.

15 minutes per station, with two questions, gives you roughly six to seven minutes per answer. That is tighter than it sounds when the scenario involves a dying patient, a distressed family member and a junior colleague asking for guidance.

This is where we come in…

The Medibuddy Online 2026 Palliative Medicine ST4 Interview Question Bank

Our question bank offers [N] scenarios carefully designed to reflect the Palliative Medicine ST4 interview format, providing targeted preparation to enhance your performance. Updated annually by high-scoring editors, it ensures alignment with the latest interview trends and topics.

With a team experienced in securing competitive roles, we aim to help you achieve the same. The question bank is user-friendly and accessible from anywhere, making your preparation seamless and efficient.

What will I learn from the Palliative Medicine ST4 Online Interview Question Bank?

The 2026 Palliative Medicine ST4 interview is delivered online by PHST, with two 15-minute stations totalling around 30 minutes of assessed time. Our question bank covers everything you’ll need.

Why have we done this?

When we prepared for our Palliative Medicine ST4 interviews, finding practical and trustworthy advice was tough. Recruitment resources often lacked depth, and external tips sometimes added stress instead of clarity.

To make things easier for future candidates, we developed this resource. With contributions from high-scoring trainees, the Medibuddy Online Palliative Medicine ST4 Interview Question Bank is tailored to help you prepare thoroughly and approach your interview with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Palliative Medicine ST4 interview involve?
The interview is delivered online through the PHST national recruitment process and, based on current guidance, consists of two 15-minute stations. Each station has two scoring clinicians, occasionally with a third helping with questioning. Stations cover commitment to specialty and portfolio, alongside clinical scenarios that typically embed communication and ethical decision-making rather than testing them as standalone components.

How competitive is Palliative Medicine ST4?
Competition has risen sharply. NHS England Medical Hub figures show the applicant-to-post ratio moving from 1.04 in 2022 (53 applications for 51 posts) to 1.55 in 2024 (101 for 65), reaching 2.34 in 2025 (136 applications for 58 posts). Applicant numbers have more than doubled in three cycles, so interview performance now carries materially more weight than it did even two years ago.

What topics come up at the Palliative Medicine ST4 interview?
Expect questions on commitment to the specialty, your portfolio and professional development, and clinical scenarios drawn from palliative practice: symptom control, complex communication, end-of-life decision-making and ethics. Reflective practice features prominently given the curriculum requirement for Palliative Records of Reflective Practice, so be ready to discuss significant clinical encounters: difficult deaths, ethical dilemmas, breaking bad news, and team or communication challenges.

Does the question bank cover both interview stations?
Yes. Scenarios span both stations: commitment to specialty and portfolio discussion in Station 1, and clinical scenarios with embedded communication and a dedicated ethics question in Station 2. The bank is built around the current PHST two-station format and the ST4 2026 person specification.

When should I start preparing for the interview?
We recommend starting around three months before interviews. Interviews for the 2026 round are expected within the national PHST window of January to April 2026; the PHST Palliative Medicine page publishes region-specific dates, so check it for your region’s exact date. That window gives time to work through scenarios systematically, rehearse reflective cases, and run timed practice with a partner before the live stations.