More about ALS,BLS,ATLS and other courses
Mood:  energetic
Thanks to Dr Nirjhar Nandi for this one:

"Hi

Sunanda has presented an excellent overview on PlAB and getting first job in UK. Here is few more...

-Things are changing in uk. Foundation programmes are coming up replacing regular SHO posts in a particular speciality. Two parts - F1 & F2. F1 is equivalent to PRHO and F2 is SHO. Regarding Foundation programme, THE EARLIER U COME (AFTER YOUR MBBS), THE MORE IS UR PROBABILITY TO GET INTO IT. Still it is difficult. Ur CV must show something to differentiate u from others.

- Regarding BLS/ALS/ATLS courses in UK:

BLS : One can do it at any UK NHS hospital by paying ?15 - ?25 on an average. Employees/Clinical Attachees may be exempted from paying. Getting a Place is not difficult.

ALS: Find the course centre and available dates at http://www.resus.org.uk/pages/alscours.pdf
You can call or mail directly to the course coordinators of individual centres to get an aplication form. Most of the centres give priority to the applicants according to your grade,speciality and region. Others do it on first come first serve basis. Getting a place is difficult. Aerage waiting time is 4-5 months. It costs around ?300 - ?400. Highly demanding course. Specially designed for Medicine, A&E, Intensive Care and Anaesthesia.

ATLS: Most demanding course for A&E, General Surgery, Trauma & Orthopedics and to some extent Anaesthesia. Find ur centre and availability at http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/education/docs/ATLS%20Course%20List.pdf . Very Very difficult to get a place. Candidates are mostly selected by shortlistig according to grade, speciality and region. Average waiting time is 10 months. cost is ?450 - ?600.

Other couses like EPLS & ALERT are also helpful.

Doing all the courses and MRCP-1/MRCP-1 u may still find it hard to get ur job. But certainly they will give some advantages over others.

But I personally believe the most important thing is what 'luck' are you bringing with u to UK.

Don't give up hope. Let's fight together. We are NILRATANITES."

Further queries, and input invited.

S