ManoMd said:
Hello,
I have been trying to find information about doing a residency in Ireland or the UK. I am mostly interested in Family Medicine, but I am also interested in some other fields as well.
I am a non-EU graduate.
Also, I read somewhere about having to do two years as a house officer.
Is this the case for non-UK/Ireland/EU graduates?
How can I find the various programs?
How can I find which are the "good" programs?
What is life like for residents....What are timelines for applying....
Oh... maybe I just want a FAQ.....
Thanks
Mano
I can tell you about Ireland:
Family Practice is called General Practice. THe training scheme is 4 years (or 3 in some places but basically 4). The training scheme is basically the training body having agreements to allow the trainees rotate between different specialities for the 2 years and then 2 years in a GP surgery.
It is incredibly competitive and there are few posts at all. You would have zero chance of getting on this residency/scheme. There are 12 spots in Dublin (1.5 million people).
If you are not on a training scheme, you do what most junior doctors do which is take 6 month rotations. Easy ones to get are A/E and medical jobs, usually outside the main cities.
If you are a graduate of a non-EU or more likely just non-Irish college than you have almost zero chance of getting on the training scheme, as they fill by priority from the intern year, which in itself fills by priority by nationality. There aren't enough training scheme posts even for local/Irish graduates so all trainign schemes will be full.
2. HOuse Officer:
In Ireland we have INtern and then SHO (Senior HO). That is the grade used for Basic Specialist Training. You need to do this to get basic memberships or fellowships. Think of it as the residency part, but a bit shorter.
Next is Higher Specialist Training (SpR).This is from 3-5 years on speciality, very few posts and high competition. Many people applying would have say MDs and so on (actual MDs as opposed to basic medical degrees from US).
3. Good programs: Good programs vary of course by speciality and location. COming from outside the EU you will have almost no choice at all as even an Irish grad simply has to take what they get. I.e., you want surgery? Surgery schemes will be full from the intern applicants, so you basically apply anywhere for 6 months (all contracts are 6 months). Ask more on a speciifc speciality.
4. Life for residents: excellent. Very high salaries, working week revolves mainly around Mon-Fri 9-5. LOads of holidays (3 weeks holiday leave and 2 weeks study leave every 6 months, plus 7 days conference leave a year). Banks love you and approve insane mortgages when you tell them your occupation. People do bitch, but medics in general are moaners.
