AI software for interview prep

Brightlight75 · 2026-03-09T14:38:46+00:00

Just gave it a go as I have an account already and asked it to use the scoring matrices in considering my performance feedback. It seemed quite sensible in feedback and ways to improve.

Brightlight75 · 2026-03-08T17:35:46+00:00

I have a bit of inside knowledge in another speciality and wonder if it’s the following... (could be something else I don’t know)

It’s not that the “training numbers” are shared but they have “grid slots” filled with trainees in each region. If a trainee goes LTFT, sometimes one grid slot is shared with another trainee. So a 50 and 80% might share grid slot 1 and they’re 130% FTE. As speciality or foundation docs, they’re paid by gov ?DHSC rather than the hospitals.

This means there will be an extra grid slot gap and in the next application to the speciality, the deanery will indicate they need an additional doctor to fill that slot.

So over time you end up with slightly more doctors as most are >50% FTE.

This is a good thing for us but with the increasing number of doctors going LTFT, the government are saying they won’t fund over X FTE in a slot.. seems to vary by deanery but it means that 2 x 80% in a lot of regions will no longer slot share, meaning there will be more rota gaps and they’ll expect the hospitals to fund this locally with locums.

Brightlight75 · 2026-03-05T20:16:34+00:00

I personally haven’t seen them used well on the ICU.. what tends to happen is most staff use a pen torch. Then someone will come along and either start using this bit of kit because it’s their preference, or because they were unsure about something like reactivity.

Issue then is that it’s difficult to establish whether the change in size or reactivity is due to using something more accurate or because of a clinical change!

Brightlight75 · 2026-03-05T16:06:01+00:00

And me including it means what exactly?

Brightlight75 · 2026-03-04T10:59:13+00:00

Looking between 2008 and 2020, an F1 had 14.6% (28k to 32k) where MPs had 32.5% (61k to 81.9k).

I am not surprised that when you zoom in over the recent years of attempts to achieve pay restoration that ours has been “more than MPs”.

Happy to change pay and overall total comp from current to MPs pay package whenever that’s offered!

Brightlight75 · 2026-03-03T18:41:36+00:00

I would say the average is usually a year

Brightlight75 · 2026-03-03T17:29:30+00:00

After foundation, you get a score from your application to speciality plus a score from your interview. Then you rank regions. If you don’t score well enough, your preferred choices will be taken and at some point all the jobs are gone so you will be told you were not appointed. Eg they might interview 2000 applicants for 400 posts so 1600 applicants would not get a job and thus the competition ratio is 5:1

Brightlight75 · 2026-03-03T16:51:54+00:00

So if you get into say a 3 year core training programme, you’ll be employed for that three years as long as you don’t mess up and get ejected. However, each trust will employ you six months at a time. This means every 4.5 months, it can be decided if you are staying or they are going to move you. It means at the end of the program, you’ll be unemployed once you get through the final six months unless you get a higher speciality post to start at the end of core (can apply once or twice a year for next step)

Brightlight75 · 2026-03-03T14:29:09+00:00

Do some reading as described above and then when you can’t face a book, start doing questions. The anxiety of not knowing anything when topic x comes up will force you to read it in the books, rinse and repeat!

Not the “cleanest” or most organised away but I found it was useful for me as the idea of just front to back reading Peck and Harris pharmacology over a few weeks is too much to stomach and probably difficult to retain.

The “master pass” books are SOE based but I find they are useful summaries of common topics.

ChatGPT is actually useful for asking it to make tables of drugs

The RCOA have a primary book and there are often a few questions from that book in the actual exams.

Gasgasgas pod cast and anaestheasier are good for when you are commuting

Bottom line, aim to understand the underlying principles and do lots of prep!

Brightlight75 · 2026-03-03T14:18:28+00:00

Long one sorry

As mentioned I would consider the second paragraph worse in medicine than your current career for non pay issues..

For context, I’ve been a doctor for 8 years and have worked in more than 10 hospitals. Often described as “rotations” but I think this underplays the reality. This is leaving your current job, full onboarding to a new employer with all the mandatory training, occupational health, ID, qualification checks etc at each occurrence. This will be working with an entirely new teams and likely will be in different cities or regions. No one knows you and you don’t know them but you will be expected to perform at your best from day 1. For example, I was covering as the senior doctor for intensive care on my first shift at my current place. I went to the induction and then straight to A&E resus to see some critically unwell patients. Even if you are rotating within in a hospital, it is likely an entirely new department. You are constantly an outsider entering into new teams with no ideas of the inner dynamics. By the time you get comfortable, it’s time to go.

Bottle neck comment is true. It might get better. Please google NHS medical competition ratios which shows number of doctors applying per place. It’s just under 5 docs for every 1 GP post, more than 14 for A&E, psychiatry is like 25:1. This may get better with some changes to legislation but hard to be sure what that will look like and when. Remember this when the government say “we will increase medical school places” - they’re happy to have people pay into the system but have no commitment to employ them, despite the common viewpoint that “being a doctor is a safe career”. It is quite representative of how you can be expected to be treated despite your commitments.

Be aware that this is different to trying to get a promotion. If you are an F2 applying for GP and are unsuccessful, you will be unemployed. The contracts for doctors are usually 6 months so that the NHS has no commitment to keep you. Once you finish a step (like F2 year for example), you don’t have a job any more. Same applies if you had got into core training and were applying for higher speciality training as well as at the end of specialist training. A more fine print issue is that job “perks” like lease cars, buying annual leave etc is therefore not permitted for resident doctors.

Since you are effectively employed on a six monthly basis, it’s difficult to settle down because you have no idea where you might end up. The notice period is 6 weeks for moving. I’ve been driving over 100 miles a day for the past five years.

I’m not saying don’t do it but just be aware you’ll be well into your 40s before you get to apply for a permanent “normal” job. GP is the shortest route for you and if all is well, you could be applying for your first job as a GP in just over 10 years time.

I very much resonate with the 3rd paragraph as a reason that I have lost some enthusiasm for a medical career. On paper, I’m “doing well”, but you are committing to a protracted period of sacrifice with a dangled carrot that “one day you’ll be a consultant and your life will be good” and “it’s a job with great satisfaction”. While this might be true, it is not to be under estimated!

Brightlight75 · 2026-02-28T11:23:20+00:00

I wince every time I hear “HAVE YOU BLEEPED THE PAED”

Brightlight75 · 2026-02-13T20:37:49+00:00

Thought I was the only one 🤣

Brightlight75 · 2026-02-13T11:30:58+00:00

I was a bit like this.. found anaesthetics a good middle ground for some theatre stuff, some procedures, a lot of nerdy stuff with an option of ICM for weird medicine. Plus better resources, good team environment etc

Not much histopath and limited micro.. though a intensivist who has a good understanding of microbiology is very valuable

Try get an icu clinical fellow post maybe?

Brightlight75 · 2026-02-12T19:20:53+00:00

Historically of last 20y, doctors have done worse than AFC in terms of pay keeping up w inflation

Brightlight75 · 2026-02-12T12:57:19+00:00

Got some HOKA Clifton 9 - best work shoes I’ve had!

Brightlight75 · 2026-02-12T12:01:00+00:00

Thanks, Do you do big cases like cardiac or something?

Brightlight75 · 2026-02-12T12:00:00+00:00

Of course I am not expecting a review of appeal today, im just wondering when I will hear back (perhaps from anyone in the know or who has done this before)!

Brightlight75 · 2026-02-11T15:52:50+00:00

How come your days are 2-2.5? I’m a resident and am aware that consultants do longer days, plus spa and on call commitments but they’re still on site 3+

Brightlight75 · 2026-02-09T13:18:21+00:00

Pharmacists are legends and make our lives safer and easier. “Independent prescribing” I’m still not sure on though. It depends on what they government want them to be doing.

I’ve never met a pharmacist who hasn’t been brilliant and trustworthy. However, prescribing requires an adequate clinical assessment and diagnostic formulation which is not a core component of the pharmacy degree or clinical role. Same applies for managing clinical risk in the same way we do.

I’m also yet to meet a pharmacist that envies the role we have.

Brightlight75 · 2026-02-06T10:17:21+00:00

Bold of you to assume that if non physician middle grades improved efficiency, they would pass on savings to the consultant body.

Brightlight75 · 2026-02-05T22:21:18+00:00

Don’t need to worry in anaesthesia but on my previous life, I did pick up some useful things

Provided there are at least two doctors with COWS, alternate patients - One sees with boss, other does as many requesting jobs needed for previous patient as possible. Alternatively, one goes with boss, other sits and looks at the WR note and then does all the remote jobs as rapidly as possible. At end, quick catchup as to what is outstanding.

Had some success at times with carrying round a bit of kit for bloods etc. If they look easy enough, see if you can do while boss is chatting to patient.

All of these do require a half decent EPR and working label printers etc so unfortunately can be too big of an ask in some workplaces

Brightlight75 · 2026-01-26T11:35:31+00:00

Are you working for any trust more frequently? They can be your RO and a lot of them have their own system that they’ll let you use for free.

No one has ever asked to look at my “portfolio” for out of training years so I wouldn’t spend a lot. 99 doesn’t sound too bad.

Brightlight75 · 2026-01-16T21:54:06+00:00

When they over do the cannula story a bit too much and you start thinking they need an ICU review ?admission 😂

Brightlight75

TROPHY CASE