UK or Irish training?

ugm1dak

Hello there,

I was wondering if you guys could use your knowledge and experience to give me some advice.

I am originally from Ireland but completed my undergraduate training in the UK. I have completed my first (intern) and second year in the UK and am now due to apply for specialist training. I am particularly interested in paediatrics as a career.

I now have a choice. Essentially I can do a further seven years of training in the UK or I can move back to Ireland to be closer to my family. I am obviously familiar with the training scheme in the UK but I have very little idea of the practicalities of training in paediatrics in Ireland other than that you do a two year rotation and then probably become an SpR.

I was hoping some of you would be able to give an idea of whether training in Ireland would be better or worse than in than in the UK. I understand from other threads that the EWTD has not been fully implemeted. What sort of shifts do you guys typically work? What is the pay like for an SHO/reg? What is the training like in Ireland? Would you be able to live in one place or would you be sent all over the county?

And what is the likelihood of being able to get a consultant job. I would hate to have to leave again after completing my training!

Thanks in advance,

David

Svalbard

I'm not a Paediatric Trainee, but have some idea of what's involved from friends and colleagues. I'm happy to be corrected on any information I provide.

First off, Paediatric trianing in Ireland is not as awful as for other specialities.

There are 2 parts: Basic Training and Specialist Training

Basic Training
2 years, usually in 4 6-month posts. At least half, and often more, is spent working in the specialist children's hospitals (all of which are in Dublin). The Dublin jobs are subspecialised, so you may end up doing oncology, cardiology, endocrine, neurology, emergency etc. I think most people do 6 months of neonatology (possible everyone must do this, not sure). The rotations outside of Dublin are in general paediatrics in the main.
From what I know of paediatric consultants in Ireland, who are among the most hardworking and dedicated medical professionals I know, I would imagine the training is quite good.
As for working conditions, while working in Dublin hospitals there may be many NCHDs on the rota, so call is infrequent, meaning you mostly work 9-5 monday to friday, or some variation thereof. Outside of Dublin it varies considerably depending on the number of NCHDs in the department.

Specialist Training
I don't know much about this, only that is is separate from basic training and not 'run through' like in the UK. I believe one must be a member of either the Irish or British faculty of paediatric, meaning you must pass a series of difficult and expensive exams.
There are many talented Irish docs stuck in limbo between basic and specialist training, jobbing as non-training registrars, trying to pass these exams so they can advance.
The obvious advantage of UK training is that advancement form basic to higher training is automatic, regardless of whether or not you pass the exams.

I hope this helps.

ugm1dak

Thanks very much for that. Not as gloomy as I was expecting. Keeps the options open.

Cheers,

David