Anaesthesia in the UK: staff grade or consultant
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Anaesthesia in the UK: staff grade or consultant
Discuss training, careers, and education
Hi everyone: I am a Spanish trained anaesthetist, included in the GMC's specialist register via EU qualification. That means that I have finished my training and, in theory, I could work as a co
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Anaesthesia in the UK: staff grade or consultant
posted at 24/9/2012 5:47 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 4
First: 24/9/2012 Last: 13/10/2012 |
Hi everyone: I am a Spanish trained anaesthetist, included in the GMC's specialist register via EU qualification. That means that I have finished my training and, in theory, I could work as a consultant. But the thing is that I don´t have enough experience within the NHS hospital system, so I have been told by a recruiting agency that, for this reason, I shoud apply to staff grade posts. On the other hand, a friend of mine, who is himnself a consultant in the NHS approaching retirement has told me that those grades are "dead ends" and that I shouldn't consider them if I ever want to become a consultant. It might be that that´s the perspective of someone who looks at things from the UK's training point of view, but remember that my aim is not getting a CCT (which I already hold), but to gain NHS experience to apply for consultant posts. Tricky? Please, share your thoughts. |
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Re: Anaesthesia in the UK: staff grade or consultant
posted at 26/9/2012 6:09 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 92
First: 20/3/2012 Last: 25/10/2012 |
Hi Antonio. First of all, welcome to the forum. As to your question, I am not a doctor or anaesthetist so cannot comment from that point of view. With regards to the consultant who told you a staff grade would be a dead end and to avoid it, well that may be the case but, given that you are looking for experience at this time, I would beg to disagree with them. You already hold the necessary qualifications to be a consultant so you just need NHS experience and I would have thought that a Staff Grade (that's a Registrar position isn't it? I've forgotten) position would be a pretty good place to get it. You would be able to get the necessary experience, at an appropriate level, to enable you to then apply for consultant posts. With your lack of NHS experience, it may take you longer to get a Consultant's post than it would to work as Staff Grade and then apply. The other advantage would be that you would have the experience before starting as a Consultant rather than trying to work things out as a Consultant. But, as I said, I do not know how it works in medicine specifically, though I do know it would be the same way in a nursing post at that level.
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Re: Anaesthesia in the UK: staff grade or consultant
posted at 27/9/2012 3:37 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 520
First: 6/9/2012 Last: 18/5/2013 |
I strongly advise against starting as a consultant in the NHS, unless you know the system very well - it is really different from other countries. It feels much safer to get an impression as a staff grade/registrar for 6 months or so and then move on - but I am not an anaesthesiologist, so it might be different for you. |
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Re: Anaesthesia in the UK: staff grade or consultant
posted at 28/9/2012 12:22 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2035
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 19/5/2013 |
Hi, antonio! I have had Spanish trainees in the past, who I delighted to tell you are now NHS consultants, but they became familiar with the NHS system as trainees. I have also worked with Staff Grades who qualified abroad but who took that post as a way into the UK and eventual consultancy. So do not despair! The Staff Grade post was designed for people who had completed their training, but who did not want to take on the additional responsibilites, committment and time of a consultant. They can be most valued and valuable members of a Department, but they can also be abused by being worked to death! A long time ago, I worked abroad, in Holland and Scandinavia, where the system of anaesthesia was very different to the UK one. In particular, Nurse Anaesthetists did the work, supervised by a Medical Anaesthetist, often over several theatres. This was a culture shock to me, even though I knew it was in place before I went, and I had to learn to be a different sort of anaesthetist. Moreover, the way that Departments were organised was very different, with a Chief Anaesthetist who had more rank and influence that any UK Department Chairman, and with consultant-level anaesthetists ( I mean permanent staff) who were junior and senior, by rank. A UK Department of Anaesthesia is (should be) much more egalitarian, with the Chairman a primus inter pares. There were many other differences, easier to negotiate as a trainee (as I was) than as a consultant. I have no idea if that picture is true any more, or anything like Spanish anaesthesia, but even if it isn't, it is an enormous step to go from working in one society and language to another. Six months in a non-consultant job would equip you far better, IMHO, to apply for a consultant post. You would have no need to be secretive about working at that level before applying, and I would encourage you to be open about it at interview, saying that you wanted to get NHS experience before you sought a consultant post. If I were on the Appointments Committee, that foresight and commitment would be a plus, not a minus, as long as you could explain what you did get out of it.. John |
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Re: Anaesthesia in the UK: staff grade or consultant
posted at 30/9/2012 10:33 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 4
First: 24/9/2012 Last: 13/10/2012 |
Hi! I actually have previous NHS experience, but only in Primary Care (I worked as a GP in the UK for a number of years before retraining as an anaesthetist), so that wouldn't really count. I will start interviews in a few weeks, and see how it goes. I was actually thinking of being open about my intentions to apply for consultant posts in the near future, so I will follow your advice. By the way, what do you thing about taking up a fellowship with a view to sub-specialize. I know I'm abusing your kindness here  , but I would really appreciate your views. Thanks again.Antonio
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Re: Anaesthesia in the UK: staff grade or consultant
posted at 30/9/2012 2:15 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 143
First: 14/5/2012 Last: 11/5/2013 |
Hi Antonio A post-CCT fellowship is actually a brilliant idea in your particular situation - will give you orientation and further sub-specialty experience together. An alternative to take a locum consultant post in a supportive department. Taking up a Staff Grade post is not such a good idea as you would not get a true idea of how consultants work, is my personal view. Hi Nursemorph Staff grade are completely different from registrar posts. Though people often tend to confuse the two. SGs are normally permanent employees of a trust on what is known as senior contracts with the same T&C as consultants (but obviously a different level of responsibility in the NHS) and are in law allowed independent practice (with the NHS convention requiring a consultant to be incharge). There are plenty of other differences - perhaps for discussion another day. |
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Re: Anaesthesia in the UK: staff grade or consultant
posted at 13/10/2012 10:10 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 4
First: 24/9/2012 Last: 13/10/2012 |
So, if I understand it all right, it seems a daunting prospect to apply for consultant posts from Spain, given my lack of UK hospital experience. It would come up in the interview, and, besides, I wouldn't really feel comfortable jumping straight into all that responsibility without proper understanding of the system. Middle grades would be "safer", but the drawback is that they wouldn't give me the full picture of what the consultant job involves. From the academic point of view, then, a fellowship would be ideal, but (and it is a big but, considering I have a big family), pay is not particularly good. Although I would still consider doing it, financially I would need to strain much more to make ends meet. If I am wrong in these assumptions, please, let me know. Thanks to all for your responses. |
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Re: Anaesthesia in the UK: staff grade or consultant
posted at 15/10/2012 5:22 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 19
First: 17/10/2009 Last: 13/3/2013 |
I need help too. I started my anesthesiology training in UK ,after an year ,finished my training in the US. Have been in Private practise for last 32 yrs. I administer anesthesia for 4 Orthopedic surgeons and a Spine surgeon& few ENT surgeons/ Plastics . We would like to move back to UK. Where should I start ? Is US training valid to obtain registration in UK. Are there any Private Outpatient surgery centers? Can't take calls anymore. Would like work few days a week..Is there something like that available in London ? Are jobs easy to come by? Appreciate any help. |
