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Becoming a Medical officer

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  • 09-07-2012 5:20pm
    #1
    Astala
    Registered Users Posts: 60 ✭✭


    Hi all!

    I was just wondering if any of you have any experience of the procedures involved in working as a doctor in the DF. I am a female, and not yet qualified as a doctor, but am considering applying to be a part of the army when I qualify.

    Go raibh maith agaibh!:)


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    #2
    Victor
    Registered Users Posts: 78,267 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    There was a big review of the army medical service. I don't know if it was published. They tend to be chronically understaffed at doctor ranks, especially for overseas. Doctors start as Captains.

    I imagine they are looking for people with a few years experience. While trauma and exotic diseases may seem like the highlight, most cases are actually GP and minor injury.


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    #3
    Mr. Tezza
    Registered Users Posts: 593 ✭✭✭Mr. Tezza


    I'd get onto the manpower office and see what they have to say, by the sounds of it you'd be looking for a direct entry into the DF as a doctor? That would be my thinking anyway.

    No offence Victor but I would have thought that they would be looking for fresh or "green" people as they don't have any bad habits which can be built up from working in previous places and would be easier to integrate into their way of doing things...

    Let us know how you get on!


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    #4
    Vorsprung
    Registered Users Posts: 2,814 ✭✭✭Vorsprung


    They want doctors to have at least 3 years post graduate experience, so you'd essentially be a first year reg at the very least. They do state on their website that they prefer specialists (ie consultant level candidates).


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    #5
    eyescreamcone
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,562 ✭✭✭eyescreamcone


    Do doctors sign up for a few years before heading off to make some money??
    I would imagine that the army pay the lowest salary of any employer that hires doctors.

    How would army experience be looked upon back on civvie street??


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    #6
    eyescreamcone
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,562 ✭✭✭eyescreamcone


    Would a doctor get more/better experience in the British Army than in the IDF??


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    #7
    Mr. Tezza
    Registered Users Posts: 593 ✭✭✭Mr. Tezza


    eyescreamcone wrote: »
    Would a doctor get more/better experience in the British Army than in the IDF??


    I'd imagine you'd get more experience anyway, you'd prob get shipped out the Afganistan or something! plus they would have a lot more resources than the Irish DF (IDF sounds like Israeli Defence Force to me so I don't say it!) at their disposal because the Brits are pretty much an active Army at are probably better equipped/have more up to date stuff.

    Just what I think but don't know for sure...


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    #8
    Dogwatch
    Registered Users Posts: 5,553 ✭✭✭Dogwatch


    British Military doctors work in NHS hospitals alongside their civvy counterparts when not deployed. Most of their on the job training is done that way.
    If that is the way you want to go, contact their recruitment organisation.


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    #9
    eyescreamcone
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,562 ✭✭✭eyescreamcone


    Dogwatch wrote: »
    British Military doctors work in NHS hospitals alongside their civvy counterparts when not deployed. Most of their on the job training is done that way.
    If that is the way you want to go, contact their recruitment organisation.

    I thought it would be more like the 4077 MASH :)


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    #10
    nuac
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,769 Mod ✭✭✭✭nuac


    Vorsprung wrote: »
    They want doctors to have at least 3 years post graduate experience, so you'd essentially be a first year reg at the very least. They do state on their website that they prefer specialists (ie consultant level candidates).

    Do you mean a specialist registrar? Thatwould be fairly high up the food chain?

    Do incoming medical graduates ( docs, pharmacists etc ) just do " shoot and salute" courses?


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    #11
    Mr. Tezza
    Registered Users Posts: 593 ✭✭✭Mr. Tezza


    nuac wrote: »
    Do you mean a specialist registrar? Thatwould be fairly high up the food chain?

    Do incoming medical graduates ( docs, pharmacists etc ) just do " shoot and salute" courses?

    AFAIK all people who go through the direct entry process into the Defence Forces do what is known basically as a "shoot and salute" course. But the length of the course and training involved in these courses depends on their level upon entry to the Defence Forces and previous knowledge... I think but as usual I am open on correction on this as I do not know if my information is 100% accurate.


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    #12
    Victor
    Registered Users Posts: 78,267 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    nuac wrote: »
    Do you mean a specialist registrar? Thatwould be fairly high up the food chain?

    Do incoming medical graduates ( docs, pharmacists etc ) just do " shoot and salute" courses?
    For doctors, I get the impression you aren't necessarily even taught to shoot.


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    #13
    eyescreamcone
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,562 ✭✭✭eyescreamcone


    What is the attraction for a qualified doctor to such a position??

    I'm not being smart.
    It strikes me that they do very little doctoring OR soldiering.
    This is just my impression and i will admit that i am not very knowledgeable in this matter.

    Those with knowledge enlighten us!
    Me in particular!!!


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    #14
    Mr. Tezza
    Registered Users Posts: 593 ✭✭✭Mr. Tezza


    eyescreamcone wrote: »
    What is the attraction for a qualified doctor to such a position??

    I'm not being smart.
    It strikes me that they do very little doctoring OR soldiering.
    This is just my impression and i will admit that i am not very knowledgeable in this matter.

    Those with knowledge enlighten us!
    Me in particular!!!


    I've never seen a military doctor (I'm a reservist) but I have seen plenty medics while out on exercies and such and they either stay in their vehicle all nice and cosy and sleep unless their called, I have actually one walk about while I was on exercise before but they didn't carry a weapon or anything like that, not even sure if they know how to operate one, I suppose they do but choose not to carry one?

    Come to think of it, do medics carry weapons?


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    #15
    Victor
    Registered Users Posts: 78,267 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    eyescreamcone wrote: »
    It strikes me that they do very little doctoring
    There are about a dozen doctors (should be twice that number) dealing with 9,500 full time and several thousand part-time + some DF families + some locals when abroad.


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    #16
    Vorsprung
    Registered Users Posts: 2,814 ✭✭✭Vorsprung


    nuac wrote: »
    Do you mean a specialist registrar? Thatwould be fairly high up the food chain?

    Do incoming medical graduates ( docs, pharmacists etc ) just do " shoot and salute" courses?

    Most doctors are at 1st year reg level after 3 years. Many people do a year or two (or more) before progressing to SpR.

    Re: the attraction of joining the army as a doctor - I'd agree there's isn't much or a pull factor. Maybe part of the lack of attraction is down to money, but I've not seen any army recruitment ads in any of the medical newspapers in the last few years so I don't know much about the life as an army doctor.


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    #17
    Victor
    Registered Users Posts: 78,267 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Until recently, there was no general DF recruitment for several years.

    With the review of the AMS, I don't think there has been any recruitment there either.


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    #18
    neilled
    Registered Users Posts: 1,232 ✭✭✭neilled


    Victor wrote: »
    Until recently, there was no general DF recruitment for several years.

    With the review of the AMS, I don't think there has been any recruitment there either.

    Note sure if its active, but see

    http://www.military.ie/en/careers/specialists/medical-doctor

    and

    http://www.military.ie/en/careers/online-applications for more....


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    #19
    Astala
    Registered Users Posts: 60 ✭✭Astala


    eyescreamcone wrote: »
    Would a doctor get more/better experience in the British Army than in the IDF??

    I would not consider joining a foreign army.
    eyescreamcone wrote: »
    What is the attraction for a qualified doctor to such a position??

    I'm not being smart.
    It strikes me that they do very little doctoring OR soldiering.
    This is just my impression and i will admit that i am not very knowledgeable in this matter.

    Those with knowledge enlighten us!
    Me in particular!!!

    You know, many people would have the same question as you, but I suppose the way I feel about it is that our Irish soldiers do so much good work both at home and abroad, many risking their lives in inhospitable environments. So I believe that they deserve the very best health care and also safety. I don't care if I am unable to progress my career, because as far as I'm concerned, all I want to do is help people.


    I want to thank everybody who has contributed-I am truly grateful and you have all given me great insights into my question!

    Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir!:)


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    #20
    discus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,049 ✭✭✭discus


    Astala wrote: »
    I would not consider joining a foreign army.


    I don't care if I am unable to progress my career, because as far as I'm concerned, all I want to do is help people.


    I want to thank everybody who has contributed-I am truly grateful and you have all given me great insights into my question!

    Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir!:)

    If every DF doctor went in with your attitude, the DF would have the best medical care any armed service could ask for. Best of luck mate!


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    #21
    mikeym
    Registered Users Posts: 3,984 ✭✭✭mikeym


    We need more medical officers FACT!


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    #22
    Astala
    Registered Users Posts: 60 ✭✭Astala


    discus wrote: »
    If every DF doctor went in with your attitude, the DF would have the best medical care any armed service could ask for. Best of luck mate!

    Thank you very much! That means a lot to me!:)


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    #23
    warwick
    Registered Users Posts: 9 ✭warwick


    I am a serving member of the PDF. I hope you join up. Irrespective of whether or not a recruitment drive is on or not I am sure the PDF would be very interested in your services. it would be a novelty for us to be treated by an Irish national and a motivated one at that. Take from that what you will about my opinion of the current crop of Doctors in the Army medical Corps!


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    #24
    eyescreamcone
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,562 ✭✭✭eyescreamcone


    warwick wrote: »
    I am a serving member of the PDF. I hope you join up. Irrespective of whether or not a recruitment drive is on or not I am sure the PDF would be very interested in your services. it would be a novelty for us to be treated by an Irish national and a motivated one at that. Take from that what you will about my opinion of the current crop of Doctors in the Army medical Corps!

    There is a saying regarding recruitment
    "You pay peanuts...you get monkeys"

    T&C apply of course ;)


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