How does support for army doctors differ from that in the NHS during training and upon qualification?
1 response
293 views
Additional information
I am a second year medical student considering joining the army medical core straight after graduation
Oliver G. asked a question to Tori C.
Category: Role Comparison
Date asked: Thursday, June 11, 2020
Last reviewed: Thursday, June 11, 2020
Tori C.
Regimental Medical Officer
Hi Oliver,
If you're hoping to join after graduation I presume you are in the process of applying for a bursary? If you are not, I would recommend starting your application soon to make the most of the financial benefits while you are still at medical school. If you decide not to apply for a bursary while at medical school, then the other option would be joining as a direct entrant, this means you will not join until after FY2.
I joined as a direct entrant, so my experience of being a trainee has been as a GP trainee rather than a foundation trainee, but I think there are probably lots of similarities.
We all train at JHGs, so you will start your career with a group of military doctors that you will probably go on to spend the rest of your career working with, medicine is a small world, but military medicine is even smaller!
In terms of support from the deanery, I have found defence deanery to be far more interested and involved in my training than my foundation deanery was when I worked for the NHS. I suspect this is for two reasons, we are a relatively small cohort so it's easier to keep track of us all, and we aren't likely to leave and go and work elsewhere. So the more support they give us, and the better our training is, the better doctors they have working for them at the end of it.
Then there are all the associated benefits of working for the military - pay, leave, accommodation, funding for courses and exams etc..
I hope that answers your question, let me know if you need any clarification on the above or have anything else you would like to ask.
Thursday, June 11, 2020
This discussion is closed, so no new comments can be added.
Did you find this discussion helpful?
Related discussions
Hi, are the fitness tests for officer and soldier different in medical regiments?What is life like as a doctor in the army e.g. career progression, transition back into the NHS, funding and lifestyle?I've been looking at Combat Medic Careers and I am very curious as to what the differences are between Doctors and CMTs?How is an Army doctor’s time divided between Army work and NHS work?I’ve been looking through the nursing and the medical support officer, do you know what the difference is? Thanksare there different ways to work up In the army as a medic?What are the pros and cons of working as a medical officer, compared to in the NHS?What's the main differences between a nurse and combat medic technician?How does going through University through the Army (student nurse role) differ to being a civilian student?Hi What is the difference between a health care assistant and a combat medical technician?What is the difference between speciality training in the army and the NHS?Hi Jordon, what would you say are the key differences between being a CMT and being a medical support officer?What are the different job roles for a nursing officer vs nursing soldier?How does medical training and selection differ in the Army from the NHS?What’s it like becoming a medic in the army?