While watching videos cannot fully replace real-world experience and conversations with health professionals, we have created some resources to guide your own reflections on what you are seeing. By working through these you will take away some important learning points about how the whole team interacts in a hospital environment and how both patients and staff may feel about certain scenarios.
How to use these resources
For each video we have set a number of questions in the documents attached. We would encourage you to come up with your own answers first, and then to look through our thoughts beneath. Remember – there is rarely a “right” or a “wrong” answer but the truth normally lies somewhere in the middle. It is important to have a reason for any answer you give however so that you can back it up if challenged on it at interview.
Remember also that our own “answers” here are far from complete and are simply designed to stimulate further thought and reading around the topics. For some of the videos we also suggest which supplementary “student interviews” are worth watching and are related to that particular scenario.
We hope you enjoy the videos and find these reflection materials useful and thought provoking.
It is almost impossible to describe “life as a doctor”. After finishing medical school the potential career pathways are so varied that no two doctors follow the exact same route.
There are obviously the roles which are well known and most commonly seen in the media – for example General Practice, Accident and Emergency, Surgery, Paediatrics, but there are also a huge number of other specialties which are equally important but less visible such as laboratory specialties (pathology, biochemistry, microbiology), radiology, and occupational health. Each role has its own necessary skills and so there really is a potential job for everyone within medicine.
Remember that no matter what specialty you pursue there will be further studying and exams and it often takes around 10 years after graduation from medical school before being a fully qualified specialist in your particular field.
Below are a number of videos from doctors in a range of specialties to give a flavour of the career after medical school.
Kathleen: Trainee in Palliative (End of Life) Care
Adam: Consultant Anaesthetist Obstetrics
Nat and Thalia: Foundation Doctors in Acute Receiving
Dr Robot: Medicine and Technology
Surgical Robot – Colorectal Surgery
Surgical Robot – Orthopaedic Surgery
So you have decided to study medicine
Currently there are around 10 applicants for every available place at Medical School and achieving the grades required for entry is not enough. Your personal qualities are just as important as your academic ability and medical schools want applicants to show evidence of commitment, ability to work effectively under pressure, team-working skills, leadership and compassion.
The following resourses are designed to support you in your journey to Medical School.
Do I have the right grades in the right subjects?
The entry requirements for entry to each university can vary but excellent grades in science subjects such as chemistry and biology are essential.
Generally speaking you are aiming to achieve at least 5 Highers, usually at AAAAB or AAABB grades in S5 and SQA Advanced Highers at AB or BBB in S6, however consideration will be given to factors which may affect you achieving these grades.
Scottish Medical Schools are committed to ensuring that a person’s background or life circumstances are not a barrier to them studying medicine.
This means that Medical Schools will consider all circumstances which may prevent you meeting their standard entry requirements and make adjusted offers of entry accordingly.
This process is called contextualised admission and consideration is given to potential barriers such as disability, care experience*, carer responsibilities, refugee status and challenging financial or family circumstances. View more about the Adjusted Entry Criteria for the University of Glasgow.
Care experienced applicants are people who live/have lived with foster parents/kinship carers or who live/have lived in a residential children’s setting/secure unit.
I’m not a school leaver and I don’t have these highers – can I still apply?
You can find out more about applying to study medicine and links to specific entry requirements for each university, including other accepted academic qualifications.
If you are not a University Graduate you may also be able to apply via the Scottish Wider Access Programme here.
Aside from good grades what else do I need?
Having the right grades is just the start of the application process. Most Universities will need you to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT). UCAT is designed to test your attitudes and identify the professional behaviours required for new doctors and dentists to be successful in their clinical careers. You can try some sample tests here
I don’t think I can afford to study Medicine – is there funding available?
If you are resident in Scotland and study full-time in Scotland, the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) should pay your tuition fees. For all enquiries relating to SAAS, please consult them directly.
SAAS student loans
If you are a Scottish student, you can apply for a SAAS student loan when you apply for tuition fee funding. Loan payments are paid monthly; and you should receive the first instalment within 3 or 4 days of registering as a student. Make sure you have enough money to support yourself for those first few days and please check whether the loan payment is in your account before spending money.
Grants
If you are eligible, SAAS can offer supplementary grants or a Young Student’s Bursary. Please consult SAAS for more information on grants.
Further information about SAAS eligibility, support available and how to apply can be found here:
Bursaries, Scholarships and Other Financial Support
You may also be able to apply for additional funding directly from your University. Use the links below to find our more about each universities arrangements:
Does a disability, Illness or mental health condition mean I can’t apply to study medicine?
A disability, chronic illness or mental health condition will not necessarily prevent you from becoming a doctor. The General Medical Council (independent regulator for doctors in the UK) states that “we firmly believe disabled people should be welcomed to the profession and valued for their contribution to patient care”.
Before you submit an application for medical school via UCAS, you should contact medical schools to request advice about your individual circumstances. Each medical school has a disability support adviser who can help.
All Universities offer confidential support services for disabled students.
This includes students with physical and sensory impairments, mental health difficulties and dyslexia.
You can find out more about what support is available by clicking the links below:
Yes, but you will be given guidance and support in advance of your interview and it’s designed to be a conversation rather than an a question and answer session.
While each medical school has its own interview process it is a vital part of the application and selection wherever you are applying. There are several sources of interview guidance online and it is worth practising with anyone you can – whether that is family, friends or teachers.
Remember that just like there is no “right” person for medicine, there is rarely a “right” answer in an interview. It is a conversation and your score will depend much less on what you say but more on how you say it. Try to have a reason behind any answer you give, make your answers as personal to your own experiences as you can and speak as clearly and confidently as you can. Enthusiasm and commitment are the key things an interviewer will be looking for.
Once at university there are frequent assessments and you will have a more hectic schedule than most other students, but there is an immense camaraderie amongst fellow medical students and a sense of growing confidence in your own ability.
Each Medical School has a slightly different structure to their course, but broadly speaking the first couple of years are spent learning the basic science behind human physiology and disease, and the later years are spent learning how to apply this clinically. As you progress through medical school you will not only learn the knowledge to become a doctor but also the skills and attitudes you will need.
You will be taught by doctors, nurses and a whole range of other healthcare professionals and each one is committed to making you the best doctor you can possibly be.
After medical school you will progress through the different grades before qualifying as a Consultant or a General Practitioner – with competitive entry to each grade and post-graduate exams. These things should not put you off but it is important to be aware that the challenges continue long after university.
Each student has their own experience of life at medical school but there are some things which are common to everyone. There is a huge feeling of being “in it together” and although there are regular challenges the support of your colleagues is always there. Most doctors still consider their time at medical school to be the most enjoyable time of their life.
Here is a selection of interviews with current medical students at Glasgow University to see how they feel about certain aspects of medical school.
Medicine is one of the most challenging but rewarding careers available. The combination of daily academic stimulation, technical procedural skills and working with patients, their families and the wider healthcare team is one which few other professions can offer.
Medicine is a profession that is open to everyone. There is no “right” person to be a doctor but all doctors are united by a passion for patient care and a dedication to their profession.
Working as a Doctor means you will train in and probably spend the majority of your career working within the National Health Service (NHS).
The NHS is Scotland’s largest single employer and one of the largest healthcare employers in the world. The Chief Executive of NHS Scotland heads the directorates and is accountable to ministers for the efficiency and performance of the service and the work of the 14 NHS Boards and 8 Special Health Boards.
The life of a doctor is not for everyone – long hours and witnessing distressing illness in patients at times can be stressful and emotionally demanding. But for those who are passionate about the profession the job satisfaction cannot be beaten.
If you are considering applying to study medicine we have created a number of resources you can access from the menu below to help you gain an insight into the career.
Please note that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde supports a number of programmes but is not responsible for content of an external website or involved in the selection of candidates for programmes.
The Scottish Cytology Training School (SCTS) is a National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP) Accredited Training Centre. The SCTS provides training and continuing professional development (CPD) for relevant professional staff in cervical cytology screening and associated work areas as part of the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme.
Scottish Cytology Training School Course Information
Trainee Biomedical Scientist – ‘A’ levels or equivalent to allow entry to a Health Profession Council (HPC) approved degree course or a recognised HPC/Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) approved degree.
Eligibility – All students must be employed in an NHSCSP Cytopathology department, as a trainee to undertake this course as part of the 2 year UK registration training.
Length of time in post: Learners should attend the introductory course ideally within the first 6 months of employment. Learners should spend a minimum of 6 weeks in the home laboratory learning how to set up as well as use a light microscope to visualise cells for interpretation and be familiar with normal cell morphology and basic infections.
NHSCSP – Registration: Prior to starting the introductory course pre-registration students must be registered by their employers with the NHSCSP Education office. The laboratory training officer (assessor) must also be registered prior to learners commencing their portfolio. This course is the first part of an intensive two year training plan for registration in Cytology which includes written portfolio work, slide logbook and attendance at compulsory courses at the training centre with a final one day external examination.
Follow –up Course in Gynaecological Cytology [NHSCSP Diploma] – (Thinprep®)
Course for candidates who have previously attended the NHSCSP Introductory Course in Gynaecological Cytology. This normally takes place between 6 to 12 months after the Introductory Course.
The introductory and follow up courses are supported by a pre-examination course. This normally takes places between 3 months and 3 weeks before the examination.
Biomedical Scientist (BMS)/Cytoscreener One Day Update Course
Update course to refresh qualified screeners knowledge and inform them about developments in Cervical Cytology and the NHSCSP.
As part of our commitment to widening access to NHS employment we host a number of pre employment training programmes in partnership with the DWP and a number of employability agencies across Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Our programmes provide training, work experience and application support to people experiencing barriers (real or perceived) to employment enabling them to become competitive job applicants.
Everyone who successfully completes our programmes will be guaranteed to be offered Job Interviews for suitable vacancies across our Health board area.
Healthcare Support Workers (Nursing Assistants)
This five week Sector Based Work Academy programme has been developed with support from our nursing leads and the NHSGGC Practice Education Team.
This is an unpaid training programme however trainees registered with the DWP (Job Centre) or who are eligible to register with one of our Employability Partners will receive support for travel and other programme expenses for the duration of the programme. Job Centre Clients will not be required to attend their local Job Centre during the programme and will continue to receive their benefits.
This programme is designed to support candidates who have not previously worked in Healthcare Support Worker role to develop the skills and experience to help them begin their career as a Healthcare Support Worker.
The programme includes Core induction sessions on NHS Policies and Procedures, Ward Skill sessions delivered by our Practice Education Nursing team in a simulated ward environment and a 3 week hospital based work placement followed by application support and interview preparation.
All training is delivered by NHS Professionals and placement activity takes place on NHSGGC Hospital locations.
In addition all participants complete the Statutory and Mandatory NHS training (Learnpro) and issued with certificates and will complete the training required and are issued with the NHS Scotland Manual Handling Passport.
All participants who successfully complete the programme are guaranteed interviews for Healthcare Support Worker vacancies across our Board area subject to satisfactory report from placement and attendance at all sessions.
Who can apply?
Candidates who are interested in applying for this programme must not be in employment or education, be genuinely interested in training as a Healthcare Support Worker, available to be interviewed for vacancies at the end of the programme and take up employment if offered.
When do applications open?
We run programmes throughout the year and you can register your interest in applying by speaking with your Job Centre Work Coach or contacting one of our Employability Partners. We also advertise this programme at www.jobs.scot.nhs.uk.
Support Services Assistants (Domestic and Catering)
This two week programme has been developed with support from our Facilities Managers and the Facilities Recruitment and Training leads.
The programme includes Core induction sessions on NHS Policies and Procedures, Practical Skill sessions delivered by our Domestic Supervisory team in a simulated ward environment and a 1 week hospital based work placement followed by application support and interview preparation.
All training is delivered by NHS Professionals and placement activity takes place on NHSGGC Hospital locations.
In addition all participants complete the Statutory and Mandatory NHS training (Learnpro) and issued with certificates and will complete the training required.
All participants who successfully complete the programme are Guaranteed interview for Support Services vacancies across our Board area – subject to satisfactory report from placement and attendance at all sessions.
To register your interest for upcoming programmes, please use the following link: Click here
Project Search
The primary aim of Project SEARCH is to connect young people with learning disabilities and additional support needs with competitive employment. There are no formal entry requirements. However, applicants must participate in a selection process, where they may undertake assessments and interviews with a host business, and education partners, such as their school or local college to be accepted on Project SEARCH.
Interns are supported through placements within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. They get hands-on experience and are given the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and abilities while learning new complex and varied, practical and vocational skills to help ready them for the world of work.
The NHSGGC programme is open to Glasgow City Council area residents and runs for one year, delivered in partnership with Glasgow Clyde College. Other Project Search opportunities are offered by City of Glasgow College
There is a lot of information available on line to support you in planning your career pathway. These are just some of the resources you can access.
You can also contact Skills Development Scotland, Scotland’s National Skills Agency who offer specialist support to individuals to build their career management, work-based and employability skills, throughout their career journey, from school, into further learning opportunities and employment.
This section helps you get started, be more efficient with your computer or laptop, connect with patients, and use electronic patient records
Getting started
If you are new to using digital in NHSGGC you will find lots of useful information in the GGC eHealth sharepoint site
Whilst you will be trained on specific applications, consider a basic IT session to learn skills that span across applications such as file management, keyboard and mouse skills, and functions of Microsoft Windows.
NHS Scotland uses Microsoft 365 (M365) which allows access to many useful apps. Training and information is available on the M365 Skills Hub.
In particular, familiarise yourself with features of Outlook and Teams as the apps for communicating and collaborating.
You can even set up your Teams profile with a photo. It is a national resource with 1000s of users so it can help identify yourself and others more quickly. Follow the steps on how to do this.
Consider familiarising yourself with accessibility features for you and your colleagues.
Be sure to personalise your email and contact details in the global address list via eHelp ‘update contact details‘
Never share your logon details or passwords. Consider setting up Imprivata OneSign (Single Sign On) on your computer to help you to remember many of your passwords. It updates automatically each time you require to change a password.
Always lock your computer when you step away from it even in an office setting. UseWindows key + L to lock the screen quickly.
Problem solving digital issues
If an application is not working well, first consider if it is using an internet connection and if this connection is good. See Troubleshooting Network Problems. Most NHSGGC devices connect to ‘WPA2-MAIN’ in NHSGGC premises.
If it is a problem with logging into a system, search for the ‘Forgot your password?’ or similar function. Make sure your set-up any security questions for systems you use before you need to use them in anger!
Ask yourself what you expect the computer to be doing and what is now different?
Make use of help functions in most applications, often depicted by a ?.
Also consider functions and settings often are in the ‘cog’, ellipsis (…), or other menu symbols. Remember that every symbol in an application means something, so hover over it with the mouse cursor, click it or right-click it to see what it does.
Consider asking ‘super-users’ in your team for tips and help.
Use eHelp if the above hasn’t managed to solve your problem.
Discuss the digital skills needed for you job in supervision, 1:1s and PDP&R just like you would for your clinical skills.
Home and agile working
To work from home successfully you require a NHSGGC provided device (e.g. laptop) and a stable internet signal.
To use M365 products such as Outlook and Teams, simply connect to your home Wi-Fi.
To access clinical systems such as EMISWeb, Clinical Portal, TrakCare and Staffnet, you need to have a ‘secure’ connection. This could be achieved in several ways:
By mobile connection where your device has a SIM card like you would have in a mobile phone. This is configured with some special settings that make the connection ‘secure’. This is the preferred option if you need access to these systems in a wide range of lcoations particularly patients’ homes.
By connecting to your home Wi-Fi and then using a ‘remote connection’ tool such as F5. This can be requested through eHelp. This is the preferred option if you work from home for prolonged periods and tend to have numerous applications open at a time.
Electronic health and care records (EHCR)
There are 3 ‘cornerstone’ systems used in NHSGGC:
TrakCare used mainly in acute settings;
EMISWeb used mainly in community settings; and
Clinical Portal used across all settings including social care for viewing clinical information. Also used across a variety of settings for documenting information.
The diagram below illustrates the NHSGGC strategic plan of how they integrate:
Connecting with our patients remotely is easy with Near Me. Speak with you manager to see if it is available in your service.
A recent patient feedback survey showed over 90% of patients that had used the video call service would use it again if offered. It has many benefits both to the patient and the clinician.
The Telerehab Toolkit is an excellent resource to help you feel more confident with video calls as well as some other really useful info and links.
GP Registrar
GP Registrars are advised to apply to join the Performers List at least three months before they complete their training. Please contact the team for information on how to apply for inclusion in the Performers List. The Team can be contacted at : gp.pcs@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Fully Qualified GP
There are fourteen Health Boards in Scotland, and you should apply to the board, where you intend to undertake the majority of your work for appraisal/revalidation purposes.
Right to work check
You’ll need to prove your right to work in the UK to allow you to provide general medical services within Scotland.
The share code should be generated and sent along with your Performers List application.
Share Codes/ Sponsorship/Visas
Visa and immigration rules changed in 2022. In the past, workers on Tier 2 visas could work only for the sponsoring employer. Following the rule changes, skilled workers are now entitled to work either unlimited hours with their sponsoring employer, or to work up to 20 additional hours with another employer (or for the worker’s own business) as long as the worker is still being sponsored for the original job.
In addition to the sponsored job, a skilled worker GP could now work:
for another independent GP practice in the same Board area;
for a Board-run (2C) practice in the same Board area;
for a Board’s OOH service in the same area; or
for all of the variants above but in a different Board area, or perhaps in multiple Board areas.
The responsibility of any individual employer is only to monitor the hours done by the employee if they have employed the GP as a Partner or a Salaried and to report any breaches of the Regulations
The GP has personal obligations to ensure that they do not exceed the 20-hour limit.
Application for Inclusion on the Performer’s List
Please find below a sample application form. Please note that this sample application form cannot be used to apply and is for information only.
In order to work as a GP in Scotland, you will need to be a member of the Disclosure Scotland, PVG Scheme, and to work in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, you will need to be on the NHS Primary Medical Services Performer’s list for Glasgow and Clyde. To obtain a copy of the application pack, please contact the FHS Team at gp.pcs@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Response from NSS – Any GP, including Sessional GPs, are entitled to an NHSmail account. The issue is whether they should be attached to the practice they work in or not. I would suggest that if they are likely to work in a practice for 3 months or more they should be attached to the practice and if they move to another practice they are marked as a leaver from that practice and then added to the next by the practice admins. This would need to be done by your local administrator. If they are only working for a week here or there, they should float within the Board (not attached to anything except GGC Board).
To get an NHS Mail account a Sessional GP should phone DAISY, the IT Company NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde use to support their systems, on 0344 863 1244 and log a call. The operator will take the GP through a series of questions, including which Health Board they are hosted by, take contact details, and then the account will be set up.
If a GP has an NHS Mail account from working in a practice can they retain it if they leave the practice to work as a Sessional GP?
Yes – When the GP is working for a Practice they will be attached to that practice, if they move to another practice they will be marked as a leaver from that practice and then added to the next by the practice admins. This would need to be done by your local administrator. If they are only working for a week here or there, they should float within the Board (not attached to anything except GGC Board).
What are the implications for a person’s PVG Scheme membership if they move from working in a practice to working sessionally, or if they come from another part of the UK?
PVG application is carried out as part of a new GP’s induction process, along with Performers List application, when they wish to practice as a GP. It is a national scheme and covers them wherever they work in Scotland, and whether they work as a Principal in a practice or sessionally. If a GP comes from another part of the UK they will have to complete the Scottish PVG process even if they are members of the scheme elsewhere in the UK
How would Sessional GPs access BNF online?
The BNF can be accessed from the Medicines Complete website at British National Formulary (BNF) | Pharmaceutical Press in order to access the site you must be working in a GP Practice, a member of NHS Scotland staff, student on NHS placements, or partner in local authorities and the voluntary health sector.
How would Sessional GPs Access the NHSGGC formulary?
You can access the GGC Formulary through Staffnet. If you are working in a practice the permissions on the PC should be sufficient. There are also smartphone apps that can be downloaded, however you need a SharePoint account in order to open either the online formulary or the app: GGC Clinical Info – Home (sharepoint.com)
How would Sessional GPs Access the online BNF?
Go to https://bnf.nice.org.uk/ and you can access the BNF on your device, either desktop or mobile.
