Fast-Track Psychiatry training scheme?

**S Knights** · 09-10-2003, 10:55 PM

According to "So you want to be a brain surgeon" you spend the obligatory PRHO year and then have to take the MRCPsych parts 1 and 2 while an SHO, which can take from two to four years. After passing the MRCPsych part 2 you apply for SpR posts in the subspecialties (so called "Calman" trainings) which last for a minimum of three years.

**S Knights** · 09-10-2003, 10:58 PM

With reference back to the original question, I would assume that you will need at least 6-7 years post-PRHO experience to apply for consultant level posts.

TC · 09-10-2003, 11:01 PM

Am on a psychiatry placement at the moment. The clinical director of psychiatry said that it is possible to become a Consultant Psychiatrist within 7 years after graduation.

As far the risks of psychiatry - it is nowhere as near as dangerous as working in Accident and Emergency.

**simran** · 09-10-2003, 11:02 PM

gosh, that is way too long. another career i was thinking of was to be a hospital consultant specialising in neurological disorders, would it take approx 6-7 yrs post prho eperience for that as well?

**Jake** · 09-10-2003, 11:18 PM

Have a look at the book 'so you want to be a brain surgeon' it tells you all about the different specialities. You have to remember also that other Drs are just as vital to the working of a firm and a hospital as well. In the words of one Dr from 'Doctors at Large': "I always couldn't wait to be a consultant, but they really don't have as much fun as when your a junior."

**S Knights** · 10-10-2003, 12:34 AM

From "so you want to be a brain surgeon" it appears that almost all internal medicine fields involve 2-4 years SHO and 4-6 years SpR, while the surgical specialties require a minimum of something like 4-6 years SHO and at least 6 years SpR (though I believe it varies with the specialty).

Becoming a GP Principle takes less time - three years after registration.

**simran** · 10-10-2003, 12:36 AM

Thanks steven

**James** · 10-10-2003, 01:43 AM

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**simran** · 10-10-2003, 02:20 AM

In my opinion psychiatry is a second rate specialty, and a lot of the docs in it are faliures and hate there jobs

Look I realise that ur a prho, so you have more knowlegde about medicine than me. But i think that you're claiming that psychiartry is a second rate speciality simply because less people choose to specailise in it. Well my opinion is that just because less doctors choose to specailise in psychiartry, it does not mean that psychiartry is any less important that other branches of medicine. One study hase highlighted that up to 30% of patients with physical symptoms may have an underlying psychological cause, (Kleinschmidt et al 1996), and manchester uni offers a retraining program for gp's so that they become familiar with the diagnostic material used to diagnose mental illnesses, after which the gp'spractices would save around 15% of their expenditure of NHS funds on their patients. I argue that not only is Psychiartry not a second rate speciality, but the NHS can save millions of pounds each year if gps were to be made aware of the diagnostic manuals (such as the ICD) that psychiatrists use.

Kev · 10-10-2003, 02:20 AM

Originally Posted by simran

gosh, that is way too long. another career i was thinking of was to be a hospital consultant specialising in neurological disorders, would it take approx 6-7 yrs post prho eperience for that as well?

You will find it takes at least7 years postgraduate experience to become a Consultant in any speciality, for some it will be much longer!