Salary of a Neurosurgeon in the UK?

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/doctors/pay-for-doctors/

You shouldn't be going into medicine or a particular specialty just for the money.

Yeah, there are three other solid reasons to do medicine.

Not just for the money, but I don't think there's anything wrong with it being a factor. Definitely can't see myself making it a consideration when choosing a specialty, though.

Yeah, there are three other solid reasons to do medicine.

Not just for the money, but I don't think there's anything wrong with it being a factor. Definitely can't see myself making it a consideration when choosing a specialty, though.

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/doctors/pay-for-doctors/


You shouldn't be going into medicine or a particular specialty just for the money.

Why wouldn't you consider Neurosurgery?
Do private surgeons make a substantially greater sum than those working for the NHS? Do any surgeons do both? And is it difficult to get yourself a place doing private surgery, I.e - do you need a lot of experience?

Why wouldn't you consider Neurosurgery?

Furthermore, I think (please correct me if i'm wrong!) it's actually quite difficult to choose what field you want to specalise in ? ... Definitely not something to decide upon right now

supposedly every single applicant to Oxford neurosurgery last year had a least 2 major publications in neurosurgery. That's...insane. The time it would take to do that as well as completing med school and being a junior doctor... these people have almost always decided they want to do neurosurgery way before they actually experienced it and consequently have spent their entire time at med school gearing towards it. Our careers advisor said flatly that if you want to be a neurosurgeon, you need to have decided 2 months ago (this was about a month before 5th year, the year where at some point we do neuro to see if we actually like it or not ).

So yeah, most of the time it is wise to not try to decide speciality too early, as its a huge decision you will probably change your mind. There do seem to be some exceptions though!

Wow, that really is insane...
Is that something they'd have had to do in their own spare time, or were those publications done during third(?) year?
And, I'm sure the answer varies massively, but how long does it take on average to complete a publication??

I wouldn't consider neurosurgery. Because its dull dull dull. I like surgery, but neuro is just drilling... where is the fun in that?

I was amazed to discover recently that the BBC actually made a program about Oxford neurosurgery. Like, of all the rotations i've done, neuro (in exactly the same department that's filmed in - i'm in one episode ) was definitely the most boring. There are other surgical specialities which require more skill, there are others that have more emergencies and excitement. Of all the specialities, why on earth did they pick that one?!





It definitely is difficult to decide, for most people. Things like super-competitive neurosurgery though pose something of a problem: supposedly every single applicant to Oxford neurosurgery last year had a least 2 major publications in neurosurgery. That's...insane. The time it would take to do that as well as completing med school and being a junior doctor... these people have almost always decided they want to do neurosurgery way before they actually experienced it and consequently have spent their entire time at med school gearing towards it. Our careers advisor said flatly that if you want to be a neurosurgeon, you need to have decided 2 months ago (this was about a month before 5th year, the year where at some point we do neuro to see if we actually like it or not ).

So yeah, most of the time it is wise to not try to decide speciality too early, as its a huge decision you will probably change your mind. There do seem to be some exceptions though!

Would being at Cambridge and doing the third year in Neurology help? You could possibly get some publications done during then could you not? I spoke to a Neurosurgeon and he told me that the application process to get into a training program took into account the prestige of your university. His example was that an applicant from Oxford/Cambridge is more likely to get in than someone from Hull University. Is this true, do you think?

And you also said that some people go into Neurosurgery for the status/prestige, do you think financial awards comes into play? Do neurosurgeons make a large amount of money in comparison to other surgeons? Also, do you know whether there is a large demand for neurosurgeons in the private sector?

Would being at Cambridge and doing the third year in Neurology help? You could possibly get some publications done during then could you not? I spoke to a Neurosurgeon and he told me that the application process to get into a training program took into account the prestige of your university. His example was that an applicant from Oxford/Cambridge is more likely to get in than someone from Hull University. Is this true, do you think?

And you also said that some people go into Neurosurgery for the status/prestige, do you think financial awards comes into play? Do neurosurgeons make a large amount of money in comparison to other surgeons? Also, do you know whether there is a large demand for neurosurgeons in the private sector?

I spoke to a Neurosurgeon and he told me that the application process to get into a training program took into account the prestige of your university. His example was that an applicant from Oxford/Cambridge is more likely to get in than someone from Hull University. Is this true, do you think?

Smells like Bull****.

This is the shortlisting score form they are using to allocate interviews this year for Neurosurgical Runthrough Training.

http://www.yorksandhumberdeanery.nhs.uk/specialty_recruitment_2013/specialties/neurosurgery/documents/ShortlistingScoresandDescriptors2013.pdf

What sort of stage would you apply for this, if you don't mind me asking?
Would this be for the year after FY2?

Your Bsc/Ba is a good time to try to get publications yes. Some succeed, some don't. Doing neurology might be a small benefit i guess - mainly because it sets you up well to do things later like essays, national exams, setup for later publications.

Oxbridge candidates tend to have high success rates, although to my knowledge there isn't a formal 'prestige factor'. The neurosurgeon almost certainly knows more than i though.

Perhaps someone in the know can answer your questions regarding salary. As i understood it, the basic pay in the NHS didn't vary much - variation comes from availability of private work. I'm not sure there is much neuro private work in the UK - don't know

Are the professors/guidance staff at Oxford, and other universities for that matter, willing to guide you as to which measures to take to maximise your chance of getting a place? Are you aware of any medics in your year who intend on pursuing a career in Neurosurgery? Is it common?