Part time - FY1 and FY2

Hi there!

I am currently applying for graduate-entry medicine and recently have been looking into the far future with this degree rather than my current eagerness and passion for it. I know they say to focus on the "NOW" rather than worry about the future but I want to be realistic.

I am already aware of the blood, sweat and tears required for a career like medicine and be a doctor but I am ready to go into this. The only thing I have been thinking about recently is, my other values in life. I am a family orientated person and hopefully would love to start a family one day.

I mean I can only sAy what I want since life is unpredicatable but I wanted to start planning for a family sometime after I finish with med school (again God ultimately plans), but apparently I have heard of those who go into "less than full time" during FY1 and FY1 and seem intrigued with it as it can be relevant in my case.

Now, I know this delays foundation year training by a year or so, but I frankly dont mind since I will still do what I love, YET spend time with my family and nurture a loving, caring home.
I don't mind a slower-paced journey.

I was just wondering whether anyone has reached this stage yet and have done part time FY1 and FY2?
And even beyond, part-time registrar etc?
If so:
What were you experiences like?
Were you able to still have a balanced life?
Does what I say sound like a reasonable idea, or am I being a bit delusional? (as in, it still may not accomodate my values).

Would love to hear what you think about this!
Many thanks in advance!

Reply 1

Helenia

20

I did the last three years of my training at 60% LTFT. It's less common in the foundation years, but still happens. The one thing I would say is that you are only entitled to NHS maternity pay (which is pretty generous) after 1 year's NHS service, so I would take that into consideration with your family planning...

Reply 2

sunshine1541

OP

8

Thank you so much Helenia for your reply! Nice to hear about your experience.
You mentioned last 3 years of training, does that mean - 1 year as registrar and 2 of specialisaion? Also are you still working part time? how many years in total did it take then to become qualified as a doc for you?

Original post by Helenia

I did the last three years of my training at 60% LTFT. It's less common in the foundation years, but still happens. The one thing I would say is that you are only entitled to NHS maternity pay (which is pretty generous) after 1 year's NHS service, so I would take that into consideration with your family planning...

Reply 3

JadeN92

17

Original post by Helenia

I did the last three years of my training at 60% LTFT. It's less common in the foundation years, but still happens. The one thing I would say is that you are only entitled to NHS maternity pay (which is pretty generous) after 1 year's NHS service, so I would take that into consideration with your family planning...

Sorry to jump in but does the entitlement still apply if you have previously worked for the NHS or is it after 1 year's continuous service?

Reply 4

JadeN92

17

Original post by sunshine1541

Hi there!

I am currently applying for graduate-entry medicine and recently have been looking into the far future with this degree rather than my current eagerness and passion for it. I know they say to focus on the "NOW" rather than worry about the future but I want to be realistic.

I am already aware of the blood, sweat and tears required for a career like medicine and be a doctor but I am ready to go into this. The only thing I have been thinking about recently is, my other values in life. I am a family orientated person and hopefully would love to start a family one day.

I mean I can only sAy what I want since life is unpredicatable but I wanted to start planning for a family sometime after I finish with med school (again God ultimately plans), but apparently I have heard of those who go into "less than full time" during FY1 and FY1 and seem intrigued with it as it can be relevant in my case.

Now, I know this delays foundation year training by a year or so, but I frankly dont mind since I will still do what I love, YET spend time with my family and nurture a loving, caring home.
I don't mind a slower-paced journey.

I was just wondering whether anyone has reached this stage yet and have done part time FY1 and FY2?
And even beyond, part-time registrar etc?
If so:
What were you experiences like?
Were you able to still have a balanced life?
Does what I say sound like a reasonable idea, or am I being a bit delusional? (as in, it still may not accomodate my values).

Would love to hear what you think about this!
Many thanks in advance!

I'm in exactly the same position as you so will definitely be keeping an eye on this thread!

Reply 5

Helenia

20

Original post by sunshine1541

Thank you so much Helenia for your reply! Nice to hear about your experience.
You mentioned last 3 years of training, does that mean - 1 year as registrar and 2 of specialisaion? Also are you still working part time? how many years in total did it take then to become qualified as a doc for you?

I was a registrar for all of those years - I did ST5-7 part-time. Being a registrar is part of specialty training - in my specialty (anaesthetics) it's the last 4-5 years, after which you become a consultant.

I think you might have some of the different training terms muddled up - you are qualified as a doctor as soon as you finish medical school; you then get full registration after FY1. You then need to complete FY2 and then go into specialty training (though many doctors now take some time out of training at that point before going on further). Specialty training is between 3-8 years, with GP being the shortest. I completed all of med school, FY1&2, and the first four years of my anaesthetics training full time, before I went part time, so the last 3 years of training at 60% took me 5 years in total. All in all, it took me 19.5 years from starting med school to becoming a consultant.

I now work full-time as a consultant but it's much easier than as a trainee, because it's "only" approx 40 hours a week rather than 48 on average, and with far fewer antisocial shifts. My kids are older and both in school now, so I still feel like I have a reasonable balance.

JadeN92

Sorry to jump in but does the entitlement still apply if you have previously worked for the NHS or is it after 1 year's continuous service?

No, it has to be 12 months' continuous service by the time you are 28 weeks pregnant, historic service doesn't count. Doesn't have to be in the same hospital, but you do have to have been working for all of that time.

Part time - FY1 and FY2

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