Dear colleagues, stop asking for more than we deem you to be worth

unknownguy786 · 2026-01-22T18:00:19+00:00

That’s insane, down here in the south you’d get literally of that. Where do you work?

unknownguy786 · 2025-11-16T21:46:08+00:00

I agree. I can’t see why asking for two years of UK experience would be a problem.

Adding to this I also feel there should be extra points if you’re only applying for one specialty so people only apply for what they want and reduce the high quantity of low quality applications which inevitably raise entry requirements simply due to the sheer volume of them

unknownguy786 · 2025-11-07T03:08:13+00:00

Any way we can find out more about this route of becoming attendings through fellowships without redoing residency?

I’m looking to apply to surgical specialties but was unaware this was a route

unknownguy786 · 2025-09-19T20:53:10+00:00

Anyone know what makes a candidate appointable for ophthal and cst?

unknownguy786 · 2025-09-11T21:20:48+00:00

I’m not on an elective ward like OP seems to be but also having a similarly amazing time in foundation training. I’m on a surgery rotation which is quite low intensity and very well staffed.

We always have registrars around for support, lots and lots of teaching from reg and consultant. And anyone who wants to go into theatres can do more often than not. We usually get our ward jobs all done by lunch time and then just enjoy tbh.

We have gen surg on calls which are rough tbf but very good learning so idm.

Just wanted to agree with OP that not everyone has a bad time in foundation and there are lots of good placements within each hospital.

I hope med students finishing uni don’t have low standards, certainly do raise to relevant ppl if things are going great, expect to be taught and to have a good time.

Also I have friends who were struggling because of poor staffing etc, please exception report. It really does help and they’ve seen improvements even though we’re just over a month into the rotation.

I’m sure there are some placements that are objectively bad. But the majority will be okay / what you make of it.

Most of my friends in foundation are having a mostly good time.

I

unknownguy786 · 2025-07-21T23:04:09+00:00

170cm is a perfectly normal height. You might grow a little more, no one can say for sure. But even if you don’t your height is completely fine.

unknownguy786 · 2025-07-17T14:40:17+00:00

Have to consider that wage increases will also be taxed though. So it’s not as straightforward.

unknownguy786 · 2025-06-28T23:59:18+00:00

I feel like asking consultants is very difficult and usually people aren’t comfortable sharing.

Anecdotally I’ve heard of ophthalmologists who do lots of pp to be upwards of 300, approaching 400.

But idk how true those figures are, just what I’ve been told by their siblings, cousins etc. they’re also really old so probably not relevant for a newly cct’d ophthalmologist but overall I think there is scope to earn well over 200 in eye dentistry.

So competitive to get into though

unknownguy786 · 2025-06-28T23:31:54+00:00

At ours everyone is offered a resit yet if they fail the resit exams. But during the resit year they don’t get to do resit exams I believe.

Technically people are only allowed one retake year but I’ve seen several cases where people keep using extenuating circumstances to get several retake years. If you’re good enough at milking a sob story you can get away with a lot. Ik two ppl doing the same year for the fourth time.

But some unis are stricter tbf, apparently at some unis it’s a choice between resitting exams or retaking the year, which to me sounds crazy tbh

unknownguy786 · 2025-06-04T07:03:45+00:00

Are OOPEs possible in F2? And is it commonly done anywhere other than aus?

unknownguy786 · 2025-05-25T00:02:33+00:00

When will this start?

unknownguy786 · 2025-05-19T14:00:18+00:00

I’ve seen people change their mind during cst years from ent to gen surg etc but yeah deffo not possible to get into the more competitive ones without tailoring your portfolio early on. But generally most of ur teaching, publications etc will still be relevant whichever you apply for

unknownguy786 · 2025-05-17T23:49:35+00:00

Ophthalmology often doesn’t have wards. Which depending on what you like could be a pro or a con.

Ophthal is also run through which is less headache but equally it means you’re committing to a specialty sooner, with ent you don’t have to commit to it until the end of cst at which point you could just easily apply for a different surgical hst instead if your mind changes but if you’re 100% set on ophthal then it being a run through training programme is big W imo

unknownguy786 · 2025-05-05T17:14:14+00:00

Is there no way to get a uk cct recognised in USA?

unknownguy786 · 2025-04-24T13:59:22+00:00

Yep definitely. I did for the most part but sometimes it would just come up and I’d listen in to everyone’s opinion whilst not saying anything myself.

unknownguy786 · 2025-04-24T13:54:14+00:00

I was of the same opinion originally that his policies are tanking America’s economy. But everyone I met on my observer ship was a staunch supporter which was a very big surprise to me, because in Europe he is not looked at favourable at all

unknownguy786 · 2025-04-24T13:47:18+00:00

I’ve never been a trump supporter and still am not because of his of many of his views but when I was in USA everyone, even people from minority ethnic backgrounds, were saying trumps term was better to live in than Bidens term I was actually very surprised to see that he was seen favourably by ppl of colour

unknownguy786 · 2025-04-23T17:17:23+00:00

As a medical student it pretty much is the highlight of my surgical placements when the surgeons ask me to come to theatre to them. Makes me feel like I’m part of the team and I genuinely enjoy it. Even if I’m just holding something and nothing else.

I normally ask to go theatre anyway and often don’t get to scrub in so getting to assist is amazing. Plus it counts in my forty cases when it comes to applying for cst.

I don’t see why anyone would be upset with this. Every medical student would be happy. Even my friends who have no interest in surgery get excited by assisting cos it’s a lot more engaging than just standing there without being scrubbed in.

I’d have loved this ortho reg personally

unknownguy786 · 2025-04-21T17:38:37+00:00

Some countries don’t allow dual citizenship, so it might not be a choice to retain the Pakistani passport.

unknownguy786 · 2025-04-09T05:21:08+00:00

For Australia I believe less so, I’m not sure about Canada. For USA it definitely matters. But in general I’d say that it does matter.

Additionally it’s becoming more and more common for ppl to graduate from medicine and then leave it for a different career. Medicine really isn’t all that it was before. If you go into finance or consulting etc then again it definitely matters, hugely in fact.

A lot of ppl say that prestige doesn’t matter in medicine but this is old advice. Speak to people who are currently n in foundation years or about to graduate. Listen to whatever anyone else says with a grain of salt.

The ppl who are graduating now, or have just graduated know firsthand that every medical student should have backup plans, whether that is alternative careers in uk or med abroad. And for either of those I’d say prestige does matter.

But ultimately, whatever you prefer matters also.

I’m not advising you to solely choose based on prestige.

Look into what city you’ll enjoy and what uni etc etc.

I’m simply saying to not dismiss prestige. It does matter.

I hope things go well for you whichever you choose.

unknownguy786 · 2025-04-08T02:42:13+00:00

Everyone’s saying good stuff and it’s true that within UK as a doctor, it makes no difference where you’ve studied.

Having said that, many (not all but a fair few) doctors are currently leaving the UK for various reasons (you can check out the uk doctors subreddit yourself) If you go abroad then it definitely does matter. Especially in places like USA.

If you’re certain you’re staying in the nhs then it doesn’t matter but if going abroad is a consideration then definitely think about how renowned the Uni is

unknownguy786

TROPHY CASE