Medicine

Medicine is a vocational degree, which will take 5 years to complete. Most graduates go on to become GPs, hospital doctors or surgeons; however some decide they want to do something else. As well as seeing patients, GPs also run the practice and with major changes in the NHS, GPs will now have more control over budgets and buying in resources and services as part of local ‘consortiums’. As a hospital doctor you would work within specialist fields within medicine, surgery, pathology and psychiatry.  Senior or consultant surgeons see patients in outpatient clinics, lead a team during surgery and make ward rounds to see patients before and after an operation.

Entry Requirements
You will need five GCSEs (A-C) including English, Maths and Science, plus 3 A levels (at least 2 As and a B) in subjects such as chemistry, biology and either physics or maths. If you don’t have qualifications in science, you may be able to join a six-year degree course in medicine. After completing your medicine degree you will then need to complete a two-year foundation programme of general training, plus additional training specific to your role.

Work experience
Relevant paid or voluntary experience may help, e.g. as a care assistant in a hospital, or nursing home. You could approach care homes directly, check the NHS Jobs website or contact the voluntary services coordinator at your local NHS Trust.

Hours
Between 48- 52 hours a week including some evenings and weekends. You may be expected to work an out-of-hours emergency on-call rota.

Income
Junior doctors can earn £33,300 - £41,300. Doctors in specialist training can earn up to £69,400. Consultants can earn between £74,500 and £180,000 a year. Surgeons working in private sector hospitals may negotiate higher fees.

Opportunities
As well as the NHS and private healthcare, the armed forces also employ a small number of GPs and medical staff. As a consultant, you will often find opportunities to work in the private sector. With experience, you may go on to lead a team or manage a department.

Graduate profile: Rebecca Taylor

1. What subject(s) did you graduate in and from where?
Medicine (undergraduate course) from The University of Birmingham.

2. What is your current job role? Please provide a brief description of your duties
Junior Doctor. This involves working in a hospital and caring for patients in a range of specialties as part of a large team of healthcare professionals.

3. What skills, knowledge and qualities does your job require?
The job requires good organisational skills and team-working ability. You must enjoy working with people; empathy and good communication skills are important attributes.

4. What are the benefits of the degree/qualification(s) you studied for?
The medical degree is necessary to work as a doctor and is orientated towards applying for this job after studies are complete. The degree allows you acquire the necessary practical skills as well as theoretical knowledge to care for patients when you graduate.

5. Are there any additional activities or work experience that helped you?
Before applying to medical school I did work experience at a hospital and voluntary work in the community. I enjoyed working with people and I was able to meet doctors who could show me what the job was like and give me advice.

6. Is there any other advice you would give to someone interested in working in a similar field?
Work hard to get the grades for admission to university but make sure you have other interests such as sport or music. Work experience and voluntary work are usually required as it shows you have put thought into the career choice and you have an idea of what to expect.

7. How did you find your current job and what was the application process like?
There is a national application process for employing junior doctors. Currently, your grades at medical school are taken into account as well as your ability to answer standardised questions on the application form. You are then given a score and this determines whether you get the job of your choice.
 

8. What do you think are the main keys to success in your field?
Good communication skills, being organised and being a good team player.

9. What are your future career options?
Junior doctors spend the first 2 years working in general medicine and surgery. After that I can choose to specialise in hospital medicine, surgery or general practice.

10. How has being lesbian, gay or bisexual impacted your career, if at all?
It has given me a better idea of how some patients might face adversity and of the specific health needs of LGBT patients. I have also been involved in societies for LGBT medical students and doctors; I have met many people through this and it has given me the opportunity to influence medical education on LGBT health issues.

11. How important was it that your university provided specific services/advice for you as an LGB student?
It is important to have services for LGBT students as it provides an avenue for meeting like-minded people and gives a sense of belonging to a society. Welfare services are useful for students who are struggling with any issues. The University of Birmingham offers good services for LGBT students in my opinion.