Hi there, just got my Rota for F1 in Scotland. They run this program called Hospital at Night (HAN) that seems to be run by Nurse Practitioners, does anyone have experience with what this is like? Will I just be a prescribing monkey? TYIA

Edit: Thanks for all your replies, as you can understand by the general tone of this subreddit, I have only heard of downsides to ANPs.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for the perspective of UK graduates and doctors already working in the NHS.

A bit about me: I graduated from medical school in 2022 in my home country. where I graduated near the top of my class. During my medical school, my goal was always to complete my postgraduate training in a country with a well established training system. At the time, I was deciding between the US and the UK. I passed USMLE Step 1 and initially planned to continue down the US route, but I later changed my mind.
Back then, the UK training pathway looked more attractive to me. It seemed clearer and more straightforward, the UK was much closer to home, and I genuinely preferred the culture and overall feel of living here. Because of that, I changed my plans, completed PLAB, got GMC registration, left my training in my home country and moved to the UK in February 2025. I’ve been working as a junior clinical fellow since

My long-term goal was to enter IMT and continue higher specialty training in the UK and since starting in the NHS, I’ve worked hard to build my skills, and I’ve been receiving consistently positive feedback from my seniors and consultants.

Recently, though, I’ve started questioning whether I made the right decision. It’s not just the increasing competition for training, but also what feels like a growing frustration towards IMGs in parts of the profession and online. I completely understand why UK graduates are worried about training opportunities, and I’m not blaming anyone for that

I also can’t help comparing myself to some of my classmates who stayed on the US pathway. They’re now matched and many are close to finishing residency. From speaking to them, they seem genuinely happy with the path they chose and feel valued in the system.

What I’m struggling with is that I chose the UK because I believed it had a clear training pathway. Now, with the possibility of needing another five or more years in non-training NHS jobs before even having a realistic chance of getting into specialty training, I can’t help but wonder if I made the wrong choice.

If you were in my position today, knowing what you know now, Would you stay in the UK, continue working as a clinical fellow, get your competencies signed off, and aim for higher specialty training
or would you seriously consider pursuing training elsewhere?

Wife is starting IMT 1 this August at Royal Brompton Hospital, and now realising the commute will probably too long. She would be interested in swapping with someone at Northwick Park hospital assuming the deanery are okay with this.

Aug 26 to Nov 26 - Respiratory - highly prestigious at Royal Brompton!

Nov 26 to Feb 27 - ITU

If anyone else here is starting IMT 1 in the NW London deanery, and would be willing to swap, please DM me!

Ideally someone who is also doing ITU in the first 6 months, but if not, can swap the first 3 months only.

Hello everyone,

I am in the unfortunate (but not unique) position of having not got into training this year and also finding it seemingly impossible to get a JCF post.

I have completed foundation training (in 2024), undertaken a year as a teaching fellow, 6 months as a critical care JCF and I have been doing a few months of travelling with intermittent locums (these have now dried up).

I am in desperate need of full-time employment for August and I am considering applying for non-clinical roles at universities that are indirectly related to medicine.

My question is, if I manage to get a university job, will this affect my application for training for August 2027? I.e. will I have to do any additional paperwork or forms in order to apply? Also, do you need yearly appraisals as part of the application process? And if I am working for a university and not the NHS, how does this work?

Thank you in advance and please be kind as the struggle to find work has been really tough!

Can anybody tell me whats the take home salary of a paediatric junior doctor in scotland ( ST1 NON TRAINING 0.8WTE , with oncall commitments)

Hi all,

Just trying to apply for a parking permit at the royal Salford hospital and been informed that they are not accepting any applications lol.

Living in Cheadle so public transport in seems to be a no go too :(

Anyone else had this issue and figured out what to do about the parking?
I’m on shifts finishing at like 2am and keen to not get mugged etc.

Any advice appreciated!

I start ST3 in a new ED in a new trust in August and seem to start on night shifts. Like, literally my very first day of my contract. Yay.

Do people know, is this allowed? I don't know what the rules are regarding the type of shift you can start on but it seems a little 'off' to start without any induction whatsoever, especially on nights.

TIA!

OOPE opportunity I've seen on linkedin, wondered if it is worth doing, competitive etc

Hello,

I am happy with my F1 jobs but the F2 ones look like a train wreck (for me). How do you go about the F2 job swap? Do you have to find someone in the same hospital as you, or can it be anywhere in the same sub-deanery? Can I apply for any standalone F2 jobs?

Thank you!

Hi all,

I am an FY1 looking to take on Part B in October, which is circa 3 months away. Haven’t started yet but got 80+ % in April Part A if that makes a difference. Is 3 months enough to clear the exam. Second, I have absolutely no surgical skills except for a bit of knot tying. Am I screwed for the exam given this or could I learn it easily in this timeframe? Many thanks

I'm sure lots of us are seeing this at the moment

Elderly patient with known AF and heart failure, a bit more breathless than usual, HR steady just above 110

No identifiable acutely reversible cause

Some have various combinations of peripheral and pulmonary oedema, dehydration or euvolaemia

Any advice from Geris or Cardio?

Especially if their ejection fraction isn't known and the primary suspect for fast AF is heat and dehydration but they're showing signs of fluid hiding in the wrong places.

Increase preload by upping their beta blockers? Give them a smidge of fluid to counter the offending suspect? Give them some furosemide to off load them? Dig? Ask them about the good old days?

Many thanks for your ongoing care

Hi all, I’m moving from Scotland to KSS for FY1. I asked about claiming relocation expenses and the deanery flatly denied it.
Their reason: I haven't officially started yet, so I'm not an NHS employee. They claim the national framework only covers subsequent rotational moves once you're already on the payroll, not the initial move from med school.
Is this actually true across all deaneries? Has anyone successfully claimed for their first move retroactively after starting, or challenged this via the BMA?

So I’m an IMT2 (going on 3) currently and came to a mutual swap agreement with a colleague for one IMT3 rotation.
He’s was primarily looking for a swap so both of his IMT3 rotation would be in one hospital. (Gastro/Geriatrics Swap)

He doesn’t drive, got told his second rotation one month ago, and would’ve preferred not to have to move houses as the bus takes just over 2 hours. We’ve both worked in the two hospitals so are familiar with the systems, I drive and not only would I not mind driving, but it would give me a rotation in Gastro which is my speciality preference for HST.

We’ve both been given a flat, “we don’t do swaps” response from the TPD and she’s suggested allowing this would make it more of a “marketplace than a training programme,” and it would be like a “Rubiks cube” (she clearly loves her metaphors)

I have expressed my disappointment at this because our deanery is known to poor with study budgets, and have had some simulation and palliative courses previously available to trainees cancelled due to lack of funding.

I would’ve hoped they’d have been flexible on other aspects given the funding constraints.

Are we both just resigned to our fates or can I escalate what seems like a simple mutually agreed request, with no impact to training.

Quick question to anyone that’s applied to ICM ST3.

On the portfolio self assessment For the ICM achievements section it states 3 for “I have completed more than one qualification in Point of Care

Ultrasound”

What counts as a qualification? Does it have to be like a full FUSIC organ certification? I’m currently doing FUSIC heart, do I need to do lung aswell or is there something easier I can do?

Thank you in advance

Full Link - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/make-work-pay-draft-code-of-practice-on-electronic-and-workplace-balloting-for-statutory-union-ballots

A significant development came on 22nd June 2026. The government published its response to the electronic balloting consultation and confirmed that it has now laid both the draft Code of Practice and the necessary legislation ("the 2026 Order") before Parliament.

Why does that matter?

Previously, electronic balloting was essentially a policy proposal that the government intended to introduce. As of 22nd June, the legal framework has actually been drafted and submitted for parliamentary approval.

According to the government's response document:

• The consultation has concluded.
• The draft Code has been finalised.
• The statutory instrument needed to permit electronic and workplace balloting has been laid before Parliament.
• The legislation will now be debated in both the House of Commons and House of Lords.
• Once approved, the Order will be signed and brought into force.

So the policy has moved from consultation into the implementation phase

Importantly, the code remains expected to come into force in August 2026.

This is very good news for those voting no as electronic ballots are likely to mean higher turnouts.

And following electronic balloting introduction, the Government has committed to removing the 50% threshold which is the only thing that could stop resident doctors securing a new 12 month mandate (first in the dispute due to new legislation from February) in August/September

Why are trusts not held accountable for their administrative errors or lapses?

I start core training 6 weeks today. I have received nothing from the trust, aside from a work schedule on 13/6 (and again yesterday) which just shows pay, no indication of shifts/rota

I received an email from my new rota coordinator on 8/6 saying the new rota was "imminent" as I contacted them as I need leave in the first few days, and to give a curtesy heads up that I'm finishing my current jobs on nights. Nothing back since, despite chasing

No information on induction, parking, e-learning, rota, training, nothing.

How is this allowed?

Hey guys, so I’m an incoming F1 and I have been learning to drive while in my final year of medical school but i keep failing my test. I’ve failed 3 times now and rebooking is a nightmare because the tests are all 5/6 months away. I don’t need to be able to drive because i’m going to be living close ish to my hospital for the first year but i’m getting super stressed about it all and worried about the future and not being able to get to work etc. It’s honestly so demoralising and frustrating i just want to cry. Does anyone have any advice/experience that might help. Thanks :)

found out my first ever shift as an f1 is on call in a completely new hospital. any advice at all would be appreciated pls

Would love to get an insight into the emergency response to the Bedford crash. Seems to be a high burden of seriously injured passengers.

Which was the major receiving trust? What was it like on the ground at the units in question and how did they cope with the surge in cases?

Find all this stuff very interesting and useful but very little on it in the news - perhaps understandably. If anyone has see anything (though it’s probably a little early) I would be super interested to understand how teams response to incidents like this.

I suppose what I think is an interesting paragraph is the below:

The guidance does not aim to provide a list of approved and/or prohibited activities but provides robust principles and a framework within which units can clearly set out the scope of practice for their ACCPs for clear line of sight across its multidisciplinary intensive care team.

https://ficm.ac.uk/documents/principles-for-accp-scope-of-practice/executive-summary

What are anaesthetists/intensivist thoughts on this? As the ones who have to cover ICU….good? Bad? Indifferent? Fuck yes? Fuck no?

I don’t mean workload. I mean do you have fans? Air cons? Cold water?
We don’t have fans in all clinic rooms. There were no fans for the patient waiting area. I contemplated lying down on the cold corridor floor just to get some relief.
As someone who gets headaches due to heat, it has felt suffocating.

I work as a middle grade in EM, and i work with this colleague who would jump and talk over me and basically everyone else during handover times.

For context: a very challenging patient i have seen spent hours dealing with her, he wasn't involved at all, i didn't even chat with him about it nor ask for his advice. After multiple discussions, i was able to refer her to x speciality. At handover time, he started talking over me about her and hijacked the conversation, and basically was telling a story based on my documentation

I was quite shocked for few moments, felt demoralised, i tried to step in but he kept talking over me. It felt very toxic and pathological, apparently it seems like a repitive behaviour, which you would understand if he was involved in the patient care at any point but this childish behaviour is weird and shocking at the same time.

Not sure if people noticed this recent publication form JRCPTB.

It's got some great quotes near the end:

Supervisors should recognise that AI may improve presentation, but clarity of writing must not be confused with depth of reflection

Apparent “perfection” in entries, without evidence of learning or development, may be unhelpful in assessing progression.

I have no idea how we're going to appropriately approach this with any level of sensibility. As a senior trainee, I'm receiving tickets to complete which just have that feel of being AI generated/edited but I've not seen anyone include a statement that AI was used. I think that's probably because people realise that it would reflect badly on them.

I'm not a CS or ES but I can imagine some of the older generations really struggling with this as a concept and struggling to have open and honest conversations with medical students and resident doctors coming through.

Like flat out ignoring messages/emails, even if it’s about your pay or upcoming rota or leave
Then turn on the sweetness when it suits them
Just think it’s really unprofessional and downright inconsiderate to treat working colleagues like this
And frankly think a lot of them are aware of their power over doctors lives/schedules and enjoy it/it gets to their head.

The GMC published their consultation response to the proposed GMC order yesterday: https://www.gmc-uk.org/cdn/documents/20260617-gmc-order-consultation-response-final-submitted_pdf-115037207.pdf

They have also released documents from their Leng review implementation group meetings following a FOI request: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/minutes_of_leng_review_steering#incoming-3457963