About the role
Medical doctors diagnose and treat human physical and mental illnesses, disorders and injuries, and recommend preventive action, based on the scientific principles of modern medicine. Being a doctor requires a totally calm and thoughtful judgement process to deal with the many life and death patient decisions that occur daily.
Employability
Choosing medicine is a total life commitment so before writing off to UCAS it is important to think long and hard about your suitability to become a doctor. For example, if you cannot stand the sight of blood or are somewhat squeamish, then being a doctor is not for you. Similarly, training can be over several years causing potential financial hardship, plus with periods of on-call you may get some sleep deprivation too. And finally, even more importantly, at some stage in the future, you will be asked to make judgement calls on a human life, maybe be involved in switching off a ventilator machine keeping someone who is brain dead alive. So you have to be prepared and be able to cope with those pressure calls. The General Medical Council (GMC) fully defines the personal attitudes, abilities, skills and behaviour needed to become a doctor at http://tinyurl.com/tpq4g. Some key skills are:
- Be aware of the importance and therapeutic potential of the patient/doctor relationship and adopt an empathic and holistic approach to patients and the problems they present.
- Understand and engage in reflective practice/audit and appraisal of their own and others’ work.
- Highlight an ability to work effectively within a team and share learning
- Working within the limits of your responsibility and capability and making decisions in partnership with colleagues and patients.
- Be able to prioritise the care of ill patients and manage your own time
- Keep proper medical records and practice current medical procedures
- Apply ethical & legal knowledge, confidentiality, consent, honesty and integrity
Career Entry
All UK medical schools accept applications that demonstrate a combination of GCSEs, AS levels and A levels. All will require top grades in science subjects, especially chemistry and/or biology – the core sciences of medical training.
Best
3 A Levels, Grade A; Biology, Chemistry + 3rd quality subject. General Studies not acceptable, Maths or Physics best, though some arts OK e.g. History
Acceptable: 3 A Levels, Grade A; Biology or Chemistry + 2nd Science, preferably Maths or Physics + 3rd quality subject, not General Studies.
Acceptable
3 A Levels, Grade A; Biology or Chemistry + 2nd Science, preferably Maths or Physics + 3rd quality subject, not General Studies.
Scottish Students
The majority of medical schools will accept a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, with high grades in chemistry and biology best.
Employers & Salaries
The UK NHS employs over 120,000 medical doctors throughout all medical specialties. The Armed Forces have around 180 full time doctors plus many part time positions especially surgeons in war zones.
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