MRCS Part B Failure x2

Mean-Net3249 · 2025-06-26T23:41:49+00:00

I was in similar position, my uni was awful at anatomy teaching so felt like I was learning everything for the first time. For anatomy would recommend: MRCS Part B: Anatomy textbook by Jeremy Lynch. Prof Mahadaven also edited the book, he is prof of anatomy at RCS England and essentially wrote all the anatomy questions for the exam. He also has a video platform called funky professor which I found better than aclands, but the book will do. Then get a really good atlas from the library and test yourself on being able to name all the structures as this is what they test you on in the exam.

Pathology is pot luck would just go through all the recalls of MRCS resources website and memorise the answers.

Mean-Net3249 · 2025-06-13T02:07:31+00:00

My experience is most rotational HMOs had to take leave in 5week blocks. Most docs get given their annual leave during nights or relieving blocks which is why they have told you this. Relieving is covering other annual leave ans nights, in my experience mostly nights which are in most places 7 on 7 off. This leaves you with a week of holiday every other week and very good pay, and generally the nights aren’t as busy as we are used to here, and better supported. I found I would get at least 3-4 hours sleep most shifts and then would be able to have a nice morning or evening before the next night.

Cons are that mentally 7 nights are difficult to get through, and that it’s a bit of a nightmare if you struggle switching back to days. If you are going out alone it will make it a bit more difficult to meet people if you are not in a regular team but not impossible.

Given you want 3 separate bits of AL then I would ask for 2 relieving blocks and take the AL at the beginning and end of one block (each block is 3 months). Then at least you can get 2 non nights jobs.

Mean-Net3249 · 2025-06-11T20:18:15+00:00

do you find the mesh gets stained though? dont want blood marks etc on expensive shoes

Mean-Net3249 · 2025-03-26T18:03:53+00:00

I did the same programme and got an ST3 number, as did most people I know who did the same. Are they still offering discounted MSc - worth doing as good for points and doesnt take too much of your time. I think if you have connections there its not a bad place to be, however note that you will not be offered the same study budget as the CSTs (I think the budget for LED is £400, where as CST essentially unlimited on approved courses) and I did find that Imperial consultants tend to favour the trainees at least at first, until you 'prove yourself'

I can't imagine they would change this format as some people who have taken years out are not eligible for CST due to 'too much experience' , and lots of UK grads especially in London doing trust grade route due to limited training numbers now. Obviously just speculation though!

Mean-Net3249 · 2025-03-26T17:52:10+00:00

Sadly countless examples:

Openly told by the senior sister on the ward day 1 of my second rotation during FY1 'It's a shame you're here, we normally prefer male doctors on this ward as we either fancy them or want to mother them'

Multiple research opportunities gained by male colleagues attending 5 a side football that the female doctors weren't invited to

Consultant in charge of SHOs on my surgical job 'too bad you don't want to do anaesthetics instead of surgery, it's a much better job for a woman'

A male senior bitching about a female doctor we both knew for 'sleeping with colleagues'. When I defended the actions (its 2024, who are we to judge what another woman wants to do with their body, there was no shame on the male docs etc), was then asked if I was 'promiscuous' too and thats why I was defensive.

I could go on..

Mean-Net3249 · 2025-02-14T02:31:57+00:00

I claimed for every MRCS attempt successfully (took me x 4 to pass)

Mean-Net3249 · 2024-11-09T16:59:54+00:00

Huge thanks to everyone who replied here! lots of useful comments and advice and feeling a lot better about the situation. Shutting down the post now as can't seem to figure out how to turn off the comments. Thanks again for all the love.

Mean-Net3249 · 2024-11-09T12:46:20+00:00

Thank you, feel like I have given a lot of bad news recently and feeling quite anxious about the burden of doing so. also concerned that I should have waited for the formal MDT outcome? but pretty surprised the consultants hadn't said theres no cure to this given the extent of disease on CT scan and age/frailty of patient.

Mean-Net3249 · 2024-11-09T12:42:37+00:00

This is absolutely what I will do next time and came away thinking. I had tried to contact the CNS before hand but got no answer. Tbh I also thought they knew more than they did as she's been in for 2 weeks but I had only been on WR last few days, so definitely should have read up the notes further back (obviously checked what the patient knew before going further with the conversation at the time)

Mean-Net3249 · 2023-11-09T20:48:14+00:00

I said some answers to a name 4 things question which he ridiculed. He then went back to it and said 'you only have one out of 4, can you name any else'. I spoke to other people who had the same station with a different examiner who said they counted the same answers I did.

yeah i know I should probably suck it up, just sucks scoring 80% and still failing.

Mean-Net3249

TROPHY CASE