What is medicine really like? Opinions Please

1 - there are no interns in the UK, it's FY1
2 - basic is the only bit of the salary you are guaranteed, most people I know have at least 1 unbanded rotation, some 2 and one person unluckily none.

There will be plenty of time to spend money.

Well... whether its intern or FY1, still means you are a runt at the bottom of the food chain; but still to your second point, most people do still get a lot more than their basic salary. And the pay gets better in FY2, and again better when you are qualified.

You are going to be an intern soon, don't make it sound worse than it really is; it is hard work and yes, your pay is relatively low if you compare it to other people that has the same level of education and commitment as you, but take some pride! Its not as bad as you make it sounds!

Don't call me an intern, I am not American or Australian thank you very much.
Currently a lot of people take a pay cut when they become FY2s, as though the basic salary increases, they get moved to a lower banding.
With increasing medical school expansion (which will continue until 2010) there are greater numbers of graduates for the same number of jobs. This year, there were more jobs than graduates, but it is expected that this will not be so within the next few years. Add the hospital at night system now employed by many NHS trusts that cut FY1s on call at nights and weekends and you'll see that many FY1 jobs will have reduced banding or lose it altogether.
1.8 banding is also not EWTD compliant, the max possible is 1.5 (1A).

you get paid 1.4x to 1.8x as much if you work overtime, and this you have to do, being a doctor means you can't just go at 5 sharply

So.. whats your point?

Well... whether its intern or FY1, still means you are a runt at the bottom of the food chain!

That's the role of the medical students right?

That's the role of the medical students right?

Again, this is quite an American sort of perspective. They do things v. differently over there.

Med Students are the lowest of the low. Lower than nursing/physio students 'cos at least they do something.

but in other ways medstudents are constantly regarded by hospitals as a bit of a drain on resources and the lowest in the food chain.

But I'm from the UK. This is the perspective I have seen from people. Med Students are the lowest of the low. Lower than nursing/physio students 'cos at least they do something.

This is variably true, in my experience. In our main teaching hospital, it is often the case, because they're overrun with students and in general we don't do very much useful while on the wards there (they have physician's assistants to do all the procedures etc). It's very easy to feel like you're in the way there, but the great bit is that if sister shouts at you, you can leave and go to either a)the common room or b) another ward. Whereas if you're the F1 on that ward, sister can shout at you all day, and you still have to be there...

It tends to be a bit different in the DGHs, I've found.

they have physician's assistants to do all the procedures etc

**** they have actually introduced them? I read on NHS Blog Doc a while ago him bitching about them, two year diploma and you stay as a house officer for ever?

I almost died at the SIFT payments made to trusts for having students!!

I haven't read NHS blog doc's opinion on them (I take his opinions on most things with a pinch of salt) but yes, they definitely exist, and though I haven't worked in Addies for ages so am not 100% sure of their whole role, it seems to be a combination of phleb work and house-officer like procedures (cannulas, catheters etc). Though it does worry me what will happen if they can't do a cannula and the house officer won't be able to because they've not had any damn practice!