WHICH SPECIALTY?
Choosing your speciality needs to be given considerable thought and research. Remember this is likely to be the field you will be working in for the rest of your life so it is important that you enjoy it.
The following is a list of factors that will effect your decision:
- Interest
- Motivation
- Dedication
- Enthusiasm
- Determination
- Ability
- Limitations
- Temperament
- Flexibility
- Aptitude
- Confidence
- Self-initiative
- Management ability
- Mental and physical stamina
- Manual dexterity
- Visa status
- Scope in the UK
- Scope within your country
All specialties require different skills & qualities and the degree of competition for posts also varies. The large specialties, particularly surgery, are very popular, and training placements are highly sought-after by both British and overseas doctors.
The table below gives a brief synopsis of the opportunities for training in the UK. It is meant only as a rough guide as the information is subject to quick change and may vary in different parts of the country.
Key: O = Some X = Limited ? = Variable
| SPECIALTY |
SCOPE |
| Accident & Emergency |
X |
| Clinical Immunology |
O |
| Clinical Oncology |
O |
| Clinical Radiology |
O |
| Dermatology |
? |
| Endocrinology / Diabetes |
X |
| General Practice |
O |
| General Surgery |
X |
| Geriatrics |
O |
| GU Medicine |
O |
| Haematology |
X |
| Histopathology |
O |
| Infectious Diseases |
? |
| Learning Disability |
X |
| Neurology |
X |
| Obs & Gynaecology |
X |
| Ophthalmology |
? |
| Orthopaedics |
X |
| Palliative Medicine |
O |
| Plastic Surgery |
X |
| Psychiatry (Adult) |
O |
| Psychiatry (Child / Adolescent) |
O |
| Psychiatry (Old age) |
X |
| Public Health |
X |
| Rehabilitation Medicine |
O |
| Renal Medicine |
O |
| Respiratory Medicine |
X |
| Urology |
X |
|
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