options for practicing in the UK?

[riopsedm]

just wondering if anyone out there can educate me on the options for a US-educated medical graduate to practice in the UK? is it better to do a residency in the US then migrate there, or do a UK residency (keeping in mind at some point Id like to keep the option open of returning to the US).

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[dj_smooth]

The UK model and the US model are very different when it comes to post-grad training. In the UK it takes much longer to get trained. New grads to a house year of 6 mos medicine and 6 mos surgery. They then become SHOs and spend 3-5+ years working at hospitals in various specialties depending on their interests and getting ready to take the membership exams (MRCP, MRCS, MRPsych, etc.). Then they try to get "a number" to become a registrar, a position that will train them to become a specialist (pulmonogy, nephrology, surgery, etc). This can take a while, depending on competitiveness of the field. Once they have become a reg, they are there for 5+ more years before they take their exams to become a consultant. It takes much longer to train. Moreover, the NHS must have a job for you to go to. Preceding all of this requires you to pass the PLAB exams (written and clinical skills) so you are eligible to apply for jobs in the UK. Jobs typically last from 6 mos-2yrs and you may move around a fair bit. As for coming back to the US, I knew a pediatric cardiologist who finished his training and then because the NHS had no positions, he worked at USCF for 6 mos and then went back to London because a spot opened up. The shortest programs are those for GPs; takes 4-5 years to complete that track, but they have NO hospital practice whatsoever when they are finished.

 

[FionaS]

You would want to get 1 year post-grad (as a Doc!) experience before coming over here. That would mean that you can come in at SHO level. You will find it very hard to come straight from med school (at PRHO level) since these posts are exclusively for UK trained students.

When you do searches etc you may come across F1 and F2 years. These are something new that is just being phased in. Basically, F1=PRHO and F2=SHO 1.

Do you have a specialty in mind? It seems to depend on what you want to go into at a later date as to where you can do your training. Where do you want to eventually work (or put it this way - where will you be keeping your pension and retirement plan?!)

If you want to eventually work in the UK, you need to go through our system. You can do training rotations eg residency etc in 6 month bocks (these are how long most of our posts last) which will count towards a fully accredited UK qual, but you have to get your US post approved with your respective Royal College.

If I've just confused you hopelessly, sorry! PM or reply here if you have any more Qs.