[simi89]

I want to specialise in Paediatrics, it was the thing that made me realise I wanted to be a doctor (I spent a lot of time in hospital on the children's ward) and I seem to get on well with children, I did a nursery placement for a bit and didn't end up hating children after it so I guess that was a success I guess it is more challenging emotionally simply because they are children, you're more likely to feel emotionally attached to the situation... I also like the variety of medical conditions you are generally likely to come across in Paeds.

Other than Paeds, respiratory medicine appeals to me, I spend a lot of time on the resp ward as a patient anyway but I just find the respiratory system particularly fascinating and also ICU... because its one of the more well supported specialities and there is I guess the job satisfaction from watching a patient progress from being critically ill and being part of that process to bring them back to health but of course it doesn’t always turn out like that.

But yeah I'm pretty set on Paediatrics but I am only an applicant at the moment.

[kristinaalovesu]

This may not be the appropriate question in this thread but might as well ask it here:

-Why is it that here in US you have to take an Undergraduate degree before you get into Medical School whilst there in UK you go straight away to Medicine? Any specific reasons why?

[Mushi_master]

Currently Neuro is very much fascinating me, so perhaps Neurology; plus I think I'd enjoy the general medicine side of things throughout the training and on-call rotas and whatnot.

But then, I seem to change my mind every couple of months, with Paeds, Anaes and ENT being top contenders of late.

[winter_mute]

Can you change specialty? The pace and challenge of Emergency medicine thrills me, but probably won't by the time I'm 40. I know the amount you have to work decreases the higher up the "food chain" you go, but I was thinking about doing that, then maybe re-training as a GP when I'm older.

Is it possible?

[Huw Davies]

(Original post by winter_mute)
Can you change specialty? The pace and challenge of Emergency medicine thrills me, but probably won't by the time I'm 40. I know the amount you have to work decreases the higher up the "food chain" you go, but I was thinking about doing that, then maybe re-training as a GP when I'm older.

Is it possible?

The impression I get is that the changes to training are going to make this more difficult, especially if you want to change between specialties which don't have any shared core element. There are plenty of doctors floating around who've done all sorts of things; I know of a GP who went into histopathology, which is about as far away as you can get.

GP is relatively easy to switch into as the training is only 3 years, but I don't think you'd be able to skip any of it.

[Renal]

(Original post by Huw Davies)
GP is relatively easy to switch into as the training is only 3 years, but I don't think you'd be able to skip any of it.

Not for much longer.

[Huw Davies]

(Original post by Renal)
Not for much longer.

Is it going to 5? The RCGP were keen for it to be I seem to recall.

[xXxBaby-BooxXx]

(Original post by winter_mute)
Can you change specialty? The pace and challenge of Emergency medicine thrills me, but probably won't by the time I'm 40. I know the amount you have to work decreases the higher up the "food chain" you go, but I was thinking about doing that, then maybe re-training as a GP when I'm older.

Is it possible?

Today I met a consultant who was on his last day at hospital. He'd started off in A&E, moved to MFE and was quitting to be a GP. So it's possible

[Renal]

(Original post by Huw Davies)
Is it going to 5? The RCGP were keen for it to be I seem to recall.

I think it'll be five, but it might be even longer, and the entry requirements seem to get tougher every year.

[Egypt]

(Original post by Huw Davies)
Is it going to 5? The RCGP were keen for it to be I seem to recall.

Thats the current RCGP aim. Some places its already 4 years.

[Elles]

(Original post by Renal)
... and the entry requirements seem to get tougher every year.

Re the Consultant re-training - should've asked him if he was taking a paycut? I know there are incrementals/service points etc. etc. but going from a Consultant back to GPVTS on a hospital SHO rota there's got to be a hit presumably?

& downside of in-hospital on call duties at evenings/weekends/nights again. So a bit of short term pain before that 'easy life'.

[Egypt]

(Original post by Renal)
I think it'll be five, but it might be even longer, and the entry requirements seem to get tougher every year.

Don't ask me for exact numbers but the 2010 cycle for Wales had more places than applicants and not all got through....

[xXxBaby-BooxXx]

(Original post by Elles)
Re the Consultant re-training - should've asked him if he was taking a paycut? I know there are incrementals/service points etc. etc. but going from a Consultant back to GPVTS on a hospital SHO rota there's got to be a hit presumably?

& downside of in-hospital on call duties at evenings/weekends/nights again. So a bit of short term pain before that 'easy life'.

If you're writing in reply to my post, then I didn't ask. But I did ask him why he was doing it, and he said because he "wants a life "

Evidently he can afford the cut if there is one