A couple of weeks ago, the job application forms for PRHO FY1 (Pre-registration House Officer, Foundation Year 1) came out. Final year medical students who are applying for FY1 posts have to fill in the application form, answering questions six questions on why he/she will make a good doctor, giving examples etc.
Yup, pretty wishy-washy.
Based on the new system of application (in its 2nd year this year), applicants are awarded 85 points in total, with academic ranking contributing 45 points maximum. The rest of the points are academic achievements, other prizes/awards, etc. To be honest, I don't know what's going on exactly.
Why? Because I'm not applying, that's why.
When I first started med school at Barts and the London, I intended to go back straight after qualifying. When I started my clinical year (year 3), I thought that staying would be a good idea, so that I can at least clear all my membership exams before going home, making it easier for specialist training. Last year, the UK Home Office came up with new immigration laws, affecting all non-UK/EU citizens across all professions, I'm sure. Because of the new laws, international students who qualify from UK medical schools are allowed to stay for the Foundation Year training (FY1 and FY2), but afterwards we'll be treated like any other foreign doctor. After finishing FY2 we'd have to apply for job permit, and employers are allowed to hire non-UK/EU citizens only when there is no one with a UK/EU passport who can fill the post. Even if we do get the job, work permit lasts only for the duration of the employment, afterwards the whole job application process repeats and work permit has to be acquired all over again.
If that doesn't stink, I don't know what does.
So, being discouraged by what's happening, my plans changed again. I'm going back to Malaysia. Those who are staying are either hoping to save some money before going back (to buy a car, a house, get married..that sort of thing), and some want the GMC registration before going back.
The GMC registration sounded attractive at first. But then I asked myself : will I ever use/need it? Now that prospects of postgraduate training in the UK are very slim, what do I need the UK GMC registration for?
One reason why I want to go back quickly is that since I'm most likely to go postgraduate studies back home, it helps to get into the civil service earlier to those who are staying behind. As it is now, my peers in Malaysia are already in their 1st year of housemanship. And back home, seniority counts (salary-wise, career progression-wise). And with the government sending SO MANY students to do medicine worldwide, as well as having medical schools practically in every state in Malaysia, I can foresee an major influx of doctors in the near future. Better get into the race sooner than later.
I've informed my medical school of my decision of not applying, and an email was sent to me and several other Singaporean students who've had job offers from Singapore, stating that :
"if, at a later date, they (i.e. non-UK/EU graduates from UK medical school )want to return to the UK to practice or undertake clinical research, they will find it very difficult – despite full registration with their home GMC or equivalent body - to update their UK GMC registration from provisional to full. The GMC does not accept retrospective approval of PRHO posts and also does not allow UK graduates to undertake PLAB. Thus even if a UK graduate is fully registered with their "home" GMC or equivalent body they will have difficulties in gaining registration with the UK GMC on return to the UK."
Reading those words, I faltered.
Oh, I knew about it even before, but having those words coming from THE authoritative source made me doubt myself.
Not enough to change my resolve, but enough for me to question whether what I'm doing is right.
I'm supposed to reply to the email, stating 'my intentions' and request for my name to be removed from the FY1 application process.
Do I burn the bridge now? Or simply wait for the application deadline to pass quietly?
With all my 'big talk', I'm not a brave person after all.
2 comments:
GMC = General Medical Certificate? [sorry, layman asking]
i was kinda in the same position as u are when i was torn between doing my chambering and joining the civil service right after graduating [okay, maybe not the same situation]. i just decided to pick one and have fun doing it [chambering], although that means that im earning RM1,400 less than my peers in the civil service [who are mostly doing criminal prosecution. jealous ni].
now ive finished my chambering and im still earning less RM100 than my peers in the civil service. oh well. it's not supposed to be about the money, is it?
but then again i am the type who likes to stick to the familiar [i mean, i might get posted to some foreign negeri if i were to work in the civil service. big NO-NO].
whatever it is, buat je. that's my current chant. hehe.. you never know - the grass might just be greener on the side that you've chosen.
GMC = General Medical Council (UK punye)..
GREAT advice. I think I'm gonna do just that.
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