Are most medical students forced into primary care?

I'm a prospective medical student I just wanted to know if most students in general are rather pushed to the primary care route. I asked the medicine lecturers and doctors at an open day in Birmingham about how common it is for students to eventually become surgeon and specialists. Their answer was that 80% of students got into primary care i.e became GP's, family doctors,pediatricians etc..

I personally don't have anything against primary care doctors but it's kind of discouraging to me since I'm looking to specialize in surgery related fields(Neurological/Orthopedic surgery)

Are most medical schools geared to primary care and do most students feel pressure or are directed into those fields of medicine? Also how hard is it to specialize or become a surgeon in general are speciality training positions
limited or very competitive? And finally are there less minorities going into these fields of medicine?

You're not forced into any specialty, you choose and if you don't get in you can choose to either settle for something else or re-apply the following year. If you can't get the job you want after trying for many years you always have the option to pursue another career.

The emphasis on primary care at the moment is due to a lack of trainees in this field.

Competitionscan be found here:

ST1 - http://specialtytraining.hee.nhs.uk/specialty-recruitment/competition-ratios/2014-competition-ratios/

ST3 - Can't seem to find the link but if i remember rightly are between 3-7/1 depending on specialty.

I understand emphasis on primary care but when 80% of students at a medical school get into primary care don't you think a lot of them are directed towards that type of training?

That statistic of 80% is a complete lie. UK average is 34% of medical students choose primary care. I think other than psychiatry, GP has one of the worst recruitment numbers out of everything. Don't worry, nobody's going to be making you diagnose sore throats and contact dermatitis.

Are you sure that includes all primary care specialities such as pediatrics and gynecology? I'm pretty sure Birmingham said their figure was 80% of the school?
Hopefully your right about those stats.

When I attended open days this year the message I received was that there will be more of a shift towards primary care since there aren't enough med students currently specialising in that field. It's important you understand this before applying since it might be more difficult to specialise in other fields as they become increasingly competitive. Don't let it put you off though - what you want to specialise in now may be completely different to what speciality you choose in 10 years time once you've gained more insight and experience.

http://www.gmc-uk.org/publications/25452.asp

Also, I'm pretty sure neither paediatrics nor gynaecology are primary care services so I'm not exactly sure what you are talking about?

Both specialities are listed as primary care on wikipedia??
I guess they count as primary care related then? Also I couldn't find the 36% figure for primary care doctors.

Maybe because that wikipedia article is for America.

Primary care services are first-contact services so in the UK that would include GP, all A+E services, genitourinary clinic and family planning clinic, along with dentists, optometrists, pharmacies etc. Paediatrics and obstetrics and gynaecology are medical specialties and so distinct from general practice.

I'll take your word on the registration statistic. Your right on gynecology and pediatrics they are listed as specialities in the uk. I just couldn't imagine how most hospitals would function without enough specialist. I mean who would you go to if you needed surgery or to deliver a baby or get a spot on diagnosis on cancer?

Anyways it seems I'm doomed to get into primary care at Birmingham since the medical school is 80% primary care. Also in general surgery seems really tough to get into as only 15% of applicants get a place. There are only 446 surgery positions annually that's seems super low athough I don't know how many applicants their are. Is it possible to train abroad? Maybe somewhere like Australia or Canada?

Canada - no.
Australia - possibly, but it'll be more competitive than the UK.

I'll take your word on the registration statistic. Your right on gynecology and pediatrics they are listed as specialities in the uk. I just couldn't imagine how most hospitals would function without enough specialist. I mean who would you go to if you needed surgery or to deliver a baby or get a spot on diagnosis on cancer?

Anyways it seems I'm doomed to get into primary care at Birmingham since the medical school is 80% primary care. Also in general surgery seems really tough to get into as only 15% of applicants get a place. There are only 446 surgery positions annually that's seems super low athough I don't know how many applicants their are. Is it possible to train abroad? Maybe somewhere like Australia or Canada?

I don't think there is a lacking of specialists hence why they are over-subscribed. In fact, there are probably too many given the fact that burden of demand is skewed much more heavily towards primary care settings. The amount of people who need surgery, are diagnosed with cancer etc, are an absolute minority compared to the general population presenting at their GP. The entire system is starting to - and should be - moving towards everyone becoming generalists, whether you want it or otherwise.

Also I don't know why you keep banding around this 80% figure since it's obviously anecdotal given we are struggling to even recruit 50% of medical students into general practice. Regardless, nothing will stop you from specialising in whatever you want to do during medical school and beyond - so maybe stop exaggerating?

The figure is closer to 50% become GPs, and we really need closer to 60%. That 80% may just be Birmingham.

As a 3rd Year attending a University that sends a lot of graduates to be GPs, I have spent more time in GP than any other speciality. I have no idea what career to pursue at this early stage, but I would be foolish to dismiss general practice.