Working as doctor in the UK,worth struggling for it?

Original post by sven

Hi guys

Just wanted to discuss the medical career opportunities in the UK.
I am 30 years old,currently in my 5th year (from 6) of medicine,studying in Europe.

Got degree in business,and unfinished masters in economics.

I am an EU citizen and entitled to work in the UK.Also I can apply for FY1,FY2 in the Uk without restrictions.

Being honest I am all full of doubts and pretty much tired of medicine.

Checked the UK medical education system-another 6 years of misery and no cash.

I am also interested in science,have some publications...but practical medicine...man.Is it really worth it?

I have experience in business and can open my own company any time,trading some FMCG.Every day I am thinking what the hell have I forgotten here,struggling with medicine,if it only works as hobby,and won't serve me the a source of income for another 7 to 8 years.Or perhaps at all?

Concerning other European countries-its even worth qua money.And still standard 6-8 years of specialist training.Surrounded by sick people,depressed colleagues,freaks (those who study in medical schools perhaps know what I mean) and so on.All mentioned does not contribute to what I think nice life is.
USA-naah,dont want to put up with all the USMLE and residency match crap,competing with geeks from all over the world,ready to work 80 hours a week with no sleep and no life.
Australia?Far from family,and apparently all the same as here.

Its not like I ask for advice,just wanted to hear your opinions.

You say you're pretty much tired of medicine, struggling with it, and question whether it's worth it . I doubt you're going to get less tired of it, or find it any less of a struggle the more work you have to do. Tbh, your whole post kind of sounds like you've already made your mind up and you just want verification? If that's the case, I'd get out now, if your heart really isn't in it, I wouldn't commit anymore of your life to it. Especially considering the large number of hours you're going to have to do, in a job that you don't sound at all like you want to be in. Plus, you have to consider your patients, if you feel that negative towards medicine and sickness, it's possible that you might not always do the best for them.

Reply 4

Renal

Original post by Duckasaurus

You say you're pretty much tired of medicine, struggling with it, and question whether it's worth it . I doubt you're going to get less tired of it, or find it any less of a struggle the more work you have to do. Tbh, your whole post kind of sounds like you've already made your mind up and you just want verification? If that's the case, I'd get out now, if your heart really isn't in it, I wouldn't commit anymore of your life to it. Especially considering the large number of hours you're going to have to do, in a job that you don't sound at all like you want to be in. Plus, you have to consider your patients, if you feel that negative towards medicine and sickness, it's possible that you might not always do the best for them.

That's not how it normally works. Everyone's enthusiasm ebbs and flows as the course and the career go on, as jobs and hossies change.

Have you started firms yet?

Reply 5

Original post by Renal

That's not how it normally works. Everyone's enthusiasm ebbs and flows as the course and the career go on, as jobs and hossies change.

Have you started firms yet?

Ah, fair enough. I was just trying to impart some general advice to what looked like a bit of a dead thread. I'll bow to someone who has more experience in this field :smile:

Firms? Nah, I'm just a med-student-to-be, figured, since he wanted advice I'd try and help. Sorry if I stepped on any toes.

Reply 6

Original post by Duckasaurus

Ah, fair enough. I was just trying to impart some general advice to what looked like a bit of a dead thread. I'll bow to someone who has more experience in this field :smile:

Firms? Nah, I'm just a med-student-to-be, figured, since he wanted advice I'd try and help. Sorry if I stepped on any toes.

For ****S sake.............

Reply 7

Original post by digitalis

For ****S sake.............

? There's no need to be angry. I think it's fair advice that if someone really doesn't want to practise medicine and be around sick people, they probably hadn't ought to be a doctor. I was merely questioning the OP if that was his opinion and if so, was he just looking for validation from others? I'm speaking less from a physician point of view, and more from the point of view of someone who's been in a similar situation myself (admittedly not medical) who looked for validation in the same way. I didn't think a bit of general life advice would hurt.

If my posts offend you that much, I will, of course, delete them. I'm not sure what else I can say, I apologised if I had somehow stepped on any toes, but I think swearing at me isn't really going to help solve the OPs problem.

Reply 8

Original post by Duckasaurus

? There's no need to be angry. I think it's fair advice that if someone really doesn't want to practise medicine and be around sick people, they probably hadn't ought to be a doctor. I was merely questioning the OP if that was his opinion and if so, was he just looking for validation from others? I'm speaking less from a physician point of view, and more from the point of view of someone who's been in a similar situation myself (admittedly not medical) who looked for validation in the same way. I didn't think a bit of general life advice would hurt.

If my posts offend you that much, I will, of course, delete them. I'm not sure what else I can say, I apologised if I had somehow stepped on any toes, but I think swearing at me isn't really going to help solve the OPs problem.

..

The place for medical students to discuss all things about the course from work load to applying for jobs and everything else. Not the place for applicants to ask current medical students questions!

Reply 9

Original post by digitalis

..

Very well. I'm aware of that, however, this thread was dead and I looked on and figured I could help, having lived quite an interesting life myself. I didn't see any issue with me giving a balanced opinion from a different perspective.

I'll tell you what, when I can be arsed to get up from the couch, I will go to my laptop, copy my posts and delete them. Then, come October, I will paste them back to this thread. In the meantime, I will not deign to step upon this forum for any reason, even for general career advice which I think I may be able to give an opinion on. I apologise if I have distracted you from any of your important medicalyness. :smile:

Reply 10

Original post by Duckasaurus

Very well. I'm aware of that, however, this thread was dead and I looked on and figured I could help, having lived quite an interesting life myself. I didn't see any issue with me giving a balanced opinion from a different perspective.

I'll tell you what, when I can be arsed to get up from the couch, I will go to my laptop, copy my posts and delete them. Then, come October, I will paste them back to this thread. In the meantime, I will not deign to step upon this forum for any reason, even for general career advice which I think I may be able to give an opinion on. I apologise if I have distracted you from any of your important medicalyness. :smile:

Sounds good.

P.S. Dead thread? It was only six hours old. [Prefresher hat] Hope you give your patients more of a chance than that

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 11

Renal

Original post by Duckasaurus

Very well. I'm aware of that, however, this thread was dead

Only two posts in two hours during the middle of the day when most of the intended respondents will be working?

Reply 12

medic101

1

Why don't you do some work here for a month or so and see if you like it first?

Reply 13

DhobyGhaut

9

Original post by Duckasaurus

...

Lol. You got TOLD!

Reply 14

fairycakes

12

Original post by sven

Hi guys

Just wanted to discuss the medical career opportunities in the UK.
I am 30 years old,currently in my 5th year (from 6) of medicine,studying in Europe.

Got degree in business,and unfinished masters in economics.

I am an EU citizen and entitled to work in the UK.Also I can apply for FY1,FY2 in the Uk without restrictions.

Being honest I am all full of doubts and pretty much tired of medicine.

Checked the UK medical education system-another 6 years of misery and no cash.

I am also interested in science,have some publications...but practical medicine...man.Is it really worth it?

I have experience in business and can open my own company any time,trading some FMCG.Every day I am thinking what the hell have I forgotten here,struggling with medicine,if it only works as hobby,and won't serve me the a source of income for another 7 to 8 years.Or perhaps at all?

Concerning other European countries-its even worth qua money.And still standard 6-8 years of specialist training.Surrounded by sick people,depressed colleagues,freaks (those who study in medical schools perhaps know what I mean) and so on.All mentioned does not contribute to what I think nice life is.
USA-naah,dont want to put up with all the USMLE and residency match crap,competing with geeks from all over the world,ready to work 80 hours a week with no sleep and no life.
Australia?Far from family,and apparently all the same as here.

Its not like I ask for advice,just wanted to hear your opinions.

to be honest going up the career ladder in the uk will be hard work, especially when you weren't trained here.

1) you're right the basic salary for foundation years is 22k. it's not much for a 30 ish year old, espceially when you think about the amount of money you could have been earning had you not started your career.

2) getting a training job is difficult. not just for outside uk graduates, but everyone. there are less jobs than before and way too many people looking to fill them. i think at interview a non uk graduate will find it more difficult though. if you are very good, you will have less of a problem, but my feeling is that there would be a tendency to give the jobs to 'their own' i.e. uk graduates. if you got a job which wasn't your first choice, if you feel disheartened now, how would you feel then?

why do you want to move to the uk?

Reply 15

No Future

Original post by sven

Hi guys

Just wanted to discuss the medical career opportunities in the UK.
I am 30 years old,currently in my 5th year (from 6) of medicine,studying in Europe.

Got degree in business,and unfinished masters in economics.

I am an EU citizen and entitled to work in the UK.Also I can apply for FY1,FY2 in the Uk without restrictions.

Being honest I am all full of doubts and pretty much tired of medicine.

Checked the UK medical education system-another 6 years of misery and no cash.

I am also interested in science,have some publications...but practical medicine...man.Is it really worth it?

I have experience in business and can open my own company any time,trading some FMCG.Every day I am thinking what the hell have I forgotten here,struggling with medicine,if it only works as hobby,and won't serve me the a source of income for another 7 to 8 years.Or perhaps at all?

Concerning other European countries-its even worth qua money.And still standard 6-8 years of specialist training.Surrounded by sick people,depressed colleagues,freaks (those who study in medical schools perhaps know what I mean) and so on.All mentioned does not contribute to what I think nice life is.
USA-naah,dont want to put up with all the USMLE and residency match crap,competing with geeks from all over the world,ready to work 80 hours a week with no sleep and no life.
Australia?Far from family,and apparently all the same as here.

Its not like I ask for advice,just wanted to hear your opinions.

What's FMCG?

Sorry, this is a bit incoherent:

Maybe some things to ponder...

- What do you enjoy doing?
- What do you want to do?
- Do you want to work with patients?
- Do you want to work in a hospital?
- What motivates you? Success, money...something else?
- Do you actually want to work in medicine?
- Life is short...seriously.

Some specialties don't involve so many sick people.

I've heard people say that working with sick children or the terminally ill is particularly depressing. Maybe that is influencing how you're feeling? Do you actually want to quit medicine or are you just having a bad time at the moment?

I have a friend who worked in neuroradiology at one time and told me that he spent most of his time telling people they were going to die and the job made him utterly depressed.

He finished training as a radiologist (US) and runs a medical business and does some clinical work. He works non stop but seems fairly happy. His advice to me was to complete specialty training.

My impression is that lifestyle is very specialty dependent.

Do you want to work in business and leave medicine?
Do you want to work in medicine?
Do you want to work in business and medicine?

Business is probably going to be better for money.

Anything specific you have in mind with regards to the UK? Why the UK over any other EU country?

Where would you be happy living?
Do you like the UK?

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 16

charlietheunicorn

Original post by digitalis

..

Is there a need to be quite so aggressive, pathetic and mean? Someone gives good advice and you criticise them as you dont think they should be on the post. Clearly you think its unimportant how good advice may be as long as you get to pretend to be all big and intimidating! Pathetic

Reply 17

FailWhale

7

Original post by sven

I have experience in business and can open my own company any time,trading some FMCG.

take it from a guy that traded some exciting FMCG before... unless you make a PILE of money and on the regular so that you're basically doing your hobbies most of the time, you will get bored of trading the same items over and over all day. medicine is so much more varied and much more guaranteed too. right now money is important, in 20 years security will be too, you ask anybody in business what they're worried about...

Reply 18

Wangers

16

Original post by Duckasaurus

? There's no need to be angry. I think it's fair advice that if someone really doesn't want to practise medicine and be around sick people, they probably hadn't ought to be a doctor. I was merely questioning the OP if that was his opinion and if so, was he just looking for validation from others? I'm speaking less from a physician point of view, and more from the point of view of someone who's been in a similar situation myself (admittedly not medical) who looked for validation in the same way. I didn't think a bit of general life advice would hurt.

If my posts offend you that much, I will, of course, delete them. I'm not sure what else I can say, I apologised if I had somehow stepped on any toes, but I think swearing at me isn't really going to help solve the OPs problem.

Its just that clinical medicine is very difficult to learn. Less to do with validation, (I don't know what that means) and more to do with:

This is ten percent luck,
Twenty percent skill,
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will,
Five percent pleasure,
Fifty percent pain,

Remember the name.Fort Minor.

Reply 19