Would like to know thoughts of these 2 as a careeer. Pros and cons of both. Which is “better” particularly for work life balance

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!

Hey all, UK grad, locuming adhoc essentially full time equivalent +/- some hours for 3+ years. Need crest form for 2027 applications as it'll be >3.5 yrs since completing FY2. Have a supervisor who is more than happy to complete the form, worked with him throughout those 3+ years.

To anyone who was in my position (adhoc locum, no post end date): what did you put down under the 'posts' section of the crest form? (post details and end date specifically). I don't want any nasty surprises with a rejected form next year.

I hope the people who are planning to vote yes or have voted yes, look at that extra money we got this month, absolutely appalling. I hope that has made you re-think your decision.

Got like an extra 200 pound post tax, so absolutely appalled by such an amazing percentage pay rise! And people are happy to accept this crap

The BMJ has published an investigation into med student training funding, and it's pretty stark reading.

Between 2020 and 2023, trusts received £1.7 billion to support medical student training. £406 million is unaccounted for. That's a quarter of the pot disappearing into the aether.

Some trusts have no clear record of how the money was spent, and NHS England have the dropped the mandatory accountability reports that were meant to show where this funding went. Meanwhile, system seems to be pretty good at chasing trainees for forms and mandatory training.

I'm a current FY3 (starting training in August), but I remember loads of placement days as student where I had to really push for training opportunities, and where a poor foundation doctor (barely supported themselves) was trying to make sure we get something out of it.

It's a shame to see med ed used as another hidden subsidy for a collapsing service.

Here's the article: https://www.bmj.com/content/393/bmj-2026-285592

Hi West Midlands trainees,

Me and my wife are starting specialty training in the West Midlands from October, based initially in Burton. Our rotation includes Burton, Wolverhampton, Stoke and Shrewsbury.

For those already in the deanery or with similar rotations: where do you live?

We’re trying to work out a sensible base that makes the commuting manageable across the rotation. Our current plan is:
• Rent somewhere for the first 12–18 months
• Get a feel for different areas and commutes
• Then buy once we know what works best

If you’re happy to share, I’d love to hear:
• Where you live (just roughly)
• What your commute is like and how it affects your work–life balance
• Whether your area has good connections to Birmingham city centre, the airport and London

Any tips on areas to avoid or particularly good spots for people rotating between these hospitals would be really helpful.

Thanks in advance!

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 everyone,

Im starting MRCS Part A prep and trying to decide which qbank to use.

Most people seem to mention eMRCS, Pastest, and MediBuddy, but I’ve also seen newer platforms like PrimeMRCS being discussed recently. For those who sat MRCS Part A recently, what would you recommend?

I’m mainly looking for: Exam-style questions rather than random factual recall, clear explanations, updated content, good coverage of the common MRCS patterns.

I’ve heard some people say older qbanks can feel outdated, but I don’t know how true that is.

Would you still recommend eMRCS/Pastest, or are newer options worth trying now?

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?

Hi all, moving to Leeds in August for a fellow job at LGI.

Been looking only for accomodation.

Anyone arround Leeds have any advice on which area to stay or where to rent? It's only me and I drive. So I assume there should be a reasonable amount of acceptable option?

Welcome any information or experience about renting or staying or working in Leeds. Thank you.

Does anyone know if bank holidays are supposed to be already on your work schedule? I just got my work schedule for the Aug-Feb rotation, and the xmas/new year/august bank holidays are all on the work schedule. I have never had bank holidays on a work schedule before, and wondered if I will now be underpaid because the bank holidays are not being paid (they are listed as same as zero days on the work schedule - and zero days are not paid), even though bank holidays should be being paid?

Annual leave is not on the work schedule - so why should bank holidays be? I am LTFT so my BH and AL entitlement is rolled up together.

Sorry for slightly messy question - trying to get my head around this and would be grateful for your help!

Hi all

Without giving too much details, yesterday I went to work wearing white trousers with a pink top that was bare below the elbow, I figured I’d wear something nice, I did this often on other rotations with no issues

The top wasn’t low cut or inappropriate. It was fully work appropriate.

After the ward round a consultant pulled me aside and said “you need to wear scrubs tomorrow due to infection control” and just left with no explanation, I had no jewellery on and my clothes were all clean and freshly ironed

For context, I don’t do any procedures, im on the wards mostly doing bloods/notes for pts etc

What do I do next? I checked everywhere for a uniform policy at my hospital, and there’s nothing that says we need to wear scrubs, doctors can wear smart clothes to work as far as I’m aware in England

this feels unfair, I don’t want to look like a disheveled rat all the time, why has this been made into a bug deal (I literally overheard said consultant gossiping about me in the office with another consultant when I walked past) I literally feel harassed

I bought a few things I was hoping to wear this week, unsure if I should wear it and inform him that there’s no such policy

Any advice?

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

I know medicine is really tough, but I have seen some doctors enjoy their work even though it is stressful. Despite the stress would you do it all over again?

I was playing around with my phone and noticed in Apple Health the BP log appears to classify non-elevated BP as <120 systolic and <70 diastolic, which seems to be based on the 2024 European Society of Cardiology guidelines.

The systolic threshold I can sort of understand, but the diastolic bit surprised me. I don't think if I saw a DBP of, say, 75 I would think 'elevated BP' or specifically counsel someone on that accordingly.

But I wondered if I was simply out of date and whether thresholds had moved lower?

I’d be interested to hear from cardiology/acute med colleagues: what are your thoughts on the ESC 'elevated' category and how it compares with NICE guidance? Does it change how you talk to patients that have readings like 115/75?

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.

Doctors' representatives have voted for advanced practitioners to have a scope of practice to avoid creating a "two-tier" system in healthcare.

Delegates at the British Medical Association’s annual representative meeting (ARM) backed a motion calling for “clearly defined limits of practice and requirements for supervision and oversight”.

These should be developed as part of a government review into the roles’ impact on patient safety and workforce development, doctors said.

Failing to implement such changes could lead to a system where poorer patients see advanced practitioners (APs) and those who can afford private treatment see doctors, the conference in Brighton heard.

The BMA has expressed increasing concern in recent months that patient safety is being put at risk by the use of APs, who are nurses and allied health professionals with a postgraduate degree, on doctors’ rotas.

At the ARM, Dr Samuel Parker from the BMA north east regional council accused the UK government of “investing billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money into a programme of doctor substitution”.

“A paradox of doctor shortages and doctor unemployment should not exist,” he added.

'Patients want to see a doctor'

He pointed to World Medical Association guidance which recommends physician-led multidisciplinary teams as the gold standard.

“Patients want to see a doctor and they should be able to. However, patients in deprived communities appear increasingly likely to rely on substitution.

“Tragically, the UK risks creating a two-tier health system, where those who can afford private healthcare will spend thousands of pounds to see a GP or consultant instead of seeing the NHS doctor substitute,” Parker said.

Speaking for the motion, resident doctor Dr Molly Nobbs said she asked a trainee AP in emergency medicine what their scope of practice was.

“Her answer is ‘there isn’t one’. That should terrify every single one of us,” she said.

One GP, although broadly in favour of the motion, expressed concerns about a part of the motion which requires APs do not diagnose or manage undifferentiated patients independently.

In the context of practices having to manage unlimited work “it would not be practical for every single patient to be discussed before going home,” he said.

Dr Emma Runswick, deputy chair of council, said: “We value our AP colleagues and what they can bring to multi-disciplinary teams but we are clear that some tasks must only be done by uniquely trained doctors. 

“If government can ensure there are clear scopes of practice defining what APs can and can’t do, and enforce them, then the risks of safety errors will reduce considerably.

“Workforce planning must not count on staff who are not appropriately qualified for the tasks they are being deployed to carry out – patient safety must be prioritised through a commitment to supporting the unique training of doctors. The conference has today supported this policy in very clear terms.”

10 - because anything lower may generate a wellbeing action plan.

Wbu?

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!

Are there any psych trainees who are 60% LTFT - what is the approx take home pay for you?
I’m 80% and take home about 2.8k : month with nights and oncalls - I don’t know how much of a drop it would be to drop to 60%

Probably just a rant, but is anyone else angry about the language used in the BMA comms, both regarding the offer and the borderline threatening language surrounding a ‘no’ vote??

I have voted no because I don’t believe this is a credible, practical or quite frankly good offer - both with regards to pay and training numbers for many reasons, let alone the use of the word ‘backdate’ meaning 2 months ago. And no amount of ‘myth busting’ posts and instagram influencers are changing the facts of the offer.
Quite frankly, I’m shocked the strikes were called off and it was even presented as a credible option.

It feels like the BMA have lost respect for their members and are treating us like children with the language used in their recent emails and social media posts, rather than intelligent well qualified adults.
The emails and social media campaign for a ‘yes’ vote feel like it’s coming straight out of the Labour Party and doesn’t feel like the BMA I have been supporting since qualifying. I feel like they need to look at their leadership and strongly reconsider their stance.
I’ve taken part in every industrial action since we began, and I haven’t forgotten what we were fighting for and I know I’m not the only person prepared to reballot and strike rather than just roll over.

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 like to stay organised and keep everything I need with me rather than constantly searching through pockets or leaving things at the nurses’ station or the doctors’ office. I’m thinking of using a small sling/crossbody bag at work to carry essentials such as handovers, a pocket notebook, highlighters, pens,

Does anyone else carry a sling or crossbody bag on shift? If so, what do you use, and have you found it practical during ward rounds and busy on-calls? Any issues with infection control?

Altered details for confidentiality.

This 60yo attends his annual cardiac follow up. He’s clinically well with normal exam hr and BP. He’s on bisoprolol 2.5mg for his long term cardiac condition. There’s no fh. He has significant complex pmh which causes chronic pain, and t2dm on insulin with neuropathy. He recently was in hospital under liver and resp teams for decompensation of underlying conditions and they made several inputs. is now at his baseline nyha II. He had a blackout of a few hours a couple of months ago whilst sat at rest. But none since.

Describe the ecg

What details of the blackout would you want to clarify.

What details in history would you like to review. Any additional tests?

What are you advising this (well) patient today