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Junior doctor working hours

What are the weekly working hours for a foundation doctor? Is it all shift work and if so is the majority through night shifts? Thank you if you know I'm considering medicine :smile:
Original post by Esmerussell
What are the weekly working hours for a foundation doctor? Is it all shift work and if so is the majority through night shifts? Thank you if you know I'm considering medicine :smile:


You would work in shifts and depending on your placement you would have more/less night shifts. You get paid more for unsociable hours and if you work more than 1 weekend in 8. Also, the standard is a 40 hour work week (most people do more and get paid pro rata for the extra hours)

These links may be useful: https://www.bma.org.uk/connecting-doctors/my_working_life/b/weblog/posts/the-new-junior-doctor-contract-explained-a-guide-for-junior-doctors-and-medical-students

https://www.nhsemployers.org/pay-pensions-and-reward/medical-staff/doctors-and-dentists-in-training/rostering-and-exception-reporting/working-hours-and-patterns-faqs-updated-august
(edited 4 years ago)
Reply 2
Original post by _Mia101
You would work in shifts and depending on your placement you would have more/less night shifts. You get paid more for unsociable hours and if you work more than 1 weekend in 8. Also, the standard is a 40 hour work week (most people do more and get paid pro rata for the extra hours)

These links may be useful: https://www.bma.org.uk/connecting-doctors/my_working_life/b/weblog/posts/the-new-junior-doctor-contract-explained-a-guide-for-junior-doctors-and-medical-students

https://www.nhsemployers.org/pay-pensions-and-reward/medical-staff/doctors-and-dentists-in-training/rostering-and-exception-reporting/working-hours-and-patterns-faqs-updated-august

Thank you this is really helpful ☺️ I do have another question of its OK, I'm unsure if in reality I'd be willing to do the night shifts due to the social impacts it would have. As you progress do you do less and less night shifts? Say after foundation years and then into specialoty training, after a while would the hours become more 'socialable' or remain the same working weekends and nights etc?
Original post by Esmerussell
Thank you this is really helpful ☺️ I do have another question of its OK, I'm unsure if in reality I'd be willing to do the night shifts due to the social impacts it would have. As you progress do you do less and less night shifts? Say after foundation years and then into specialoty training, after a while would the hours become more 'socialable' or remain the same working weekends and nights etc?

There isn't an option to decline night shifts - it's part of the job, especially in the earlier years.

Later on, you can choose specialties which have fewer of these demands and more sociable lifestyles, but doing nights as a doctor is unavoidable.

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