UPDATE
Watch where
you work
TWO/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
REDNINJA
MPS medicolegal adviser
Are you practising in an approved setting?
Dr Chris Godeseth explains to provide formal medical full registration. These
cover at a public event. “Approved Practice Settings”
why working as a doctor However, F2 doctors, with are the only organisations
their increasing experience in which F2 doctors, and
outside your rotation could lead and full GMC registration, some international medical
might feel better-placed to graduates, are permitted to
to difficulties with the GMC lend a hand. Other foundation work in a medical capacity.
doctors might wish to help MPS is aware that some
G
raduating from doctor at our concert/hockey their consultants in operations F2 doctors have been
medical school is a tournament/village fete?” in the private sector. censured by the GMC for
rite of passage for Most foundation doctors Unfortunately, it isn’t breaking these rules.
medical students. The title have experience of the former always this simple. Aside As with all GMC matters,
“Dr” brings many rewards, situation, and feel comfortable from the clear professional prevention is better than
but also inevitably leads to directing enquirers towards a requirement to act within cure. If you are asked to
a raft of requests for advice more appropriate source of your competence, the provide medical cover in a
and explanation from friends care. Most F1 doctors would GMC rules may prevent you setting outside your normal
and family in a social setting. also identify that their lack of from working outside your hospital or GP placement,
Sooner or later, there may be experience and “provisionally hospital or GP placement. you must be certain that this
a more formal request for help registered” status limits their The GMC specifically lists is appropriate. If you are in
from somebody organising ability to practise outside their organisations recognised as any doubt, you can contact
an event or gathering: “Would day job, and would therefore being suitable for doctors the GMC , or contact MPS
you mind helping out as the politely turn down a request who have recently obtained for medicolegal advice.
From Ward to World: Getting into research
research component.
Dr James Bateman thinks of the key things you Once you have a
supervisor, the rest is
will need to get that dream research project potentially straightforward.
There will be help and advice
regarding any dreaded grant
W
hen I graduated not a prerequisite. Getting serious research? For this you writing proposal or interviews.
from medical started by approaching need five key things: a clinical From a time perspective, it
school, research colleagues in a field that you’re area, a supervisor, a project, often involves taking time
couldn’t have been farther interested in is a great way to time and money to pay for it OOP (out-of-programme,
from my mind. Often, it’s get going. Often, consultants all! This is actually easier and ie, work that will not count
only when trainees get past and registrars have projects less daunting than it seems. towards mandatory training).
the day-to-day demands of stacked up, but not the time You will often find clinicians It helps to keep in touch with
being a new doctor that they or the will to finalise projects. and departments are just your local deanery and let
realise potential openings in Don’t be put off if you are waiting for that “someone” them know what’s going on.
research. Besides, it is widely not currently working with to come along. Clinicians Finally, the money and your
known that you won’t get a them, or in the field you’re will frequently have funded pay will depend on who is
job in some areas “unless interested in. Most clinicians projects, or have a good idea funding the project. Don’t be
you’ve done some research”. would be flattered by the for a project, and can put you put off by the thought of a
So how to get started, and approach. They may give you in touch with an appropriate pay cut, as often departments
what is needed to get a the opportunity to present the source of funding like the will have alternatives to
research project together? work, eg, as a poster form at Medical Research Council supplement your salary, such
Firstly, research isn’t for a national meeting (there is (MRC), or prominent charities as out of hours work, clinical
everyone, but there are a wide one for every specialty). This like Cancer Research UK lists or oncall rotas. Good luck.
variety of things you can study, is a way of getting your foot and the Arthritis Research Dr Bateman is an SPR
from pathology to education. in the door when it comes Council. There are also in Rheumatology at the
Being in the right place at the to future job prospects. “pre-packaged” fellowships Haywood Hospital in
right time is a good start, but What about the more that are advertised with a North Staffordshire.
www.mps.org.uk NEW DOCTOR | VOLUME 3 - ISSUE 1 | 2010 5
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