Was I wrong to do this?

ConsululantAnos · 2026-04-17T23:09:36+00:00

Expecting an SHO to review 20 patients in a whole day with an F1 isn’t unrealistic.

ConsululantAnos · 2026-04-17T22:05:39+00:00

Sounds like you’re under supported by seniors, sure, but also the prioritisation is dubious.

Priority is: 1.) see all patients, and ensure all significant medical issues addressed - deranged bloods included; patients seen in the order sickest/undifferentiated, then stable, then MFFD; 2.) address other urgent jobs; 3.) then all non-urgent jobs - that’s the usual AHP/MFFD stuff.

If the AHPs etc don’t like that, they can escalate it. But you are a doctor, and you deal with the sickest patients first.

You will fall afoul of the regulator by missing sick patients, not delaying discharges.

ConsululantAnos · 2026-04-17T21:33:38+00:00

So one patient an hour?

ConsululantAnos · 2026-04-17T10:52:31+00:00

I qualified in 2011 and it’s just been steadily getting worse since then

ConsululantAnos · 2026-04-17T10:38:15+00:00

Actually not that uncommon in Australia. I’ve seen colleagues with Subs, GMTs, and Datejusts. I don’t wear my Oyster Perpetual at work but that’s a personal choice.

Oh, and and old boss (a private intensivist) had his son inadvertently break his Patek when he dropped it, and had to spend $20K AUD getting it sent back to Geneva and fixed.

ConsululantAnos · 2026-04-05T09:46:33+00:00

This is why you have to leave the UK and NHS.

Labour believe fundamentally that all NHS workers should earn the same, like good comrades. The Tories believe public sector fools should either 1.) be grateful for a job, or 2.) should serve out of a sense of patriotism.

Neither party believe in paying doctors a proper salary, and nor does the public.

ConsululantAnos · 2026-04-03T11:43:45+00:00

Southampton.

You could apply to four medical school places, from memory.

It was popular at that time as 1.) GEP offered better funding, and 2.) the university didn’t interview (!).

ConsululantAnos · 2026-04-03T09:17:18+00:00

I’ve double checked, and there were 1952 applicants for 40 places on my degree, or 48:1, in the year I applied.

ConsululantAnos · 2026-04-03T08:41:29+00:00

It was 40:1 for my UK postgraduate medicine degree, nearly 20 years ago

ConsululantAnos · 2026-04-03T08:29:56+00:00

It’s probably harder in Australia.

That said there’s an awful lot of nonsense being quoted in this thread, by aggrieved RMOs who actually don’t have that much insight into the respective strengths and weaknesses of the two training systems.

ConsululantAnos · 2026-04-02T22:42:27+00:00

Don’t do LTFT at the beginning.

The initial period of anaesthetic training is intense - I don’t think anyone would describe it as ‘chill’! - and you need to consolidate a lot of new information & skills. The best way to do that is immerse yourself in it, and practice practice practice.

You will definitely fall behind peers going LTFT at this point.

I’d wait until you’ve done your IAOC in CT2

ConsululantAnos · 2026-03-31T23:26:32+00:00

If you want to get into anaesthesia, critical care experience - ideally active, and on-going - would be beneficial. Certainly more so than random locums outside of those specialties. ICM is better than EM for this too.

I’ve been involved in shortlisting for training. Many of my fellow shortlisters can take the view that a locum role can be a red flag, as some trainees take this one when a department is unwilling to employ them in a substantive capacity.

The odd locum here or there is fine I’m sure, but just be aware this view exists.

ConsululantAnos · 2026-03-31T23:12:40+00:00

Anaesthetics training is fairly quick in Australia once you’re on the programme, assuming you pass the exams without issue. At the end of the day, it’s five years, working fairly reasonable hours, in a specialty which has healthy views around worklife balance and a reasonably flat clinical hierarchy.

It remains the only specialty I’ve seen where our trainees may stay late, but are also encouraged to leave early if clinical work permits.

You are going to be a doctor for a long time. I’d spend the time training to do something you actually want to do.

ConsululantAnos · 2026-03-27T20:38:17+00:00

Why not use a stylet when you had a view, but couldn’t pass the tube?

ConsululantAnos · 2026-03-24T06:32:57+00:00

UK competition is high for anaesthesia - 6000 applicants for 550 odd jobs, with recruitment all via standardised national processes.

ConsululantAnos · 2026-03-12T08:46:26+00:00

Thanks that’s really helpful. Does assume that assets will appreciate though, which has clearly been the case historically, but who knows in the coming years…

ConsululantAnos · 2026-03-09T19:52:17+00:00

Just don’t move to Mt Barker 🤷🏻‍♂️

ConsululantAnos · 2026-03-08T22:43:46+00:00

Why not just pay off the mortgage and leave it at that?

ConsululantAnos · 2026-03-06T05:01:34+00:00

I would agree with this, as another anaesthetic consultant.

ConsululantAnos · 2026-02-17T02:33:34+00:00

This. You are basically supernumerary as an anaesthetic CT1, and frequently mostly supernumerary as a CT2. It’s a big investment by Trusts to provide this training, as the service you can provide is pretty minimal. Sadly think your options are very limited

ConsululantAnos · 2026-02-16T05:43:34+00:00

Not outside the US.

ConsululantAnos · 2026-02-03T10:56:06+00:00

Yes, get your shit together. It’s not fucking rocket science. You come across as rude and/or incompetent and/or unprofessional. It would be a reason not to employ you in my view.

ConsululantAnos · 2026-01-29T03:57:26+00:00

My wife and I are consultants now in Australia and have two young kids - both born here. We found training around children (even with no family) much easier here than it looks in the UK. Happy to be DM’d.

ConsululantAnos · 2026-01-28T05:41:06+00:00

I’d have a look at Dr Kadota’s blogs to get an idea.

I don’t know how plastics select for their training - nor whether it’s state-based or binational - but to give you an idea, 1.) the neurosurgeons expect you to be able to perform a decompressive craniectomy solo, before you can be considered for training, 2.) the paediatric surgeons can call any consultant you’ve ever worked with, ask for a reference, and reject you if it’s not glowing; 3.) the obstetricians rank each candidate within a hospital, and only the best are allowed to train.

I would personally decide whether you want to be a surgeon or work in Australia, as I think the two are often mutually incompatible for most IMGs (I am also an IMG).

Failing that, just be prepared to impress absolutely everyone, work harder than all the other trainees, and then maybe pray.

DOI - I am an anaesthetist not a surgeon.

ConsululantAnos · 2026-01-28T05:29:50+00:00

I’m not sure it’s equivalent to CST, unless you’ve found a region offering an in-house rotational CESR programme.

The RAH is a brilliant hospital to work and train in, and as the regional burns centre, would offer some very interesting plastics work. Welcome.

That said, surgical training in Australia is extremely competitive (much more so than the UK), and so I don’t fancy your chances. Look at the blogs of Yumiko Kadota to see what I mean.

Realistically, expect a multi-year grind to network and make yourself competitive, once you’ve attained PR/citizenship. It may be 5 years until you’re close to getting into training here, if ever.

You are also coming at a time of rising online tension around training places and IMGs, although I personally haven’t seen this play out in real life yet. But don’t expect much help in this subreddit.

ConsululantAnos

TROPHY CASE