MORE Q- Re PLAB2, PG, MRCP etc
Q:
hi,
thanx for th reply & th infos.its mentiond tht plab2 is gng to b difficult-is it tht its quite tough(made by teachrs)nowadays or its kinda luck factr wrkin so 1 may nt succeeed?if mrcp/s is don along with plab-is it gng to help2gt jobs faster?whts th scene out thr4 thos who r clearin only ths pg exams &comin to uk for th clinical portions?hw do thy manage to do th clinical attachmnts?do pg passd out peopl hav a bettr chance ovr thr?
wil b waitin eagerly for th reply of my queries
A:
Firstly, every one has a different experience about PLAB and UK. There is no hard and fast rule. So while you are taking info, don't base your decisions on exceptions. Rather base it after considering the average, if not the worst. The info I provide basically comes from feedback from east ham docs, and those who got jobs in the last 5 months.
PLAB2 has changed a bit. While people become anxious about the 'new' 'first time' osces, most fail on the good old osces that we used to do even in 2003. It's all about practising and getting stock replies into your head, which will work even when you are actually working on the wards.
Luck is undeniably a factor, but luck does favour u when u are prepared for it. Getting jobs mean a lot of things, including the possibility of a job cropping up where u are doing an attachment. Those who get jobs without an attachment have really unusual luck :)
The deal here is to improve the odds of getting a job. For that:
- MRCP1 / MRCS1 etc is a recommendation - yes.
MRCPsych is not possible because u need to have worked here for a year at least b4 u r eligible.
- Build your cv -
recently i know one doc who got a paeds sho post, 2 months after coming to this country - her cv had research [from the private paeds hospital at park street- forget the name] and audit from another private hosp.
-do a BLS / ATLS course in india, it costs bout 800 rs, there are institutes in pune, find out which ones. Apollo delhi also does few 'online' courses that are expensive, don't mean nething to the nhs, but at least make ur cv better than the rest. Even if u dont do those, when u come to uk, try and get a 'bls' and an 'atls' course. again it's optional, i haven't met many in the last two years who did not have to do one before they got a job. Most hospitals will make you pay for the courses. Prices vary from 350 to 500 pounds each.
-cut short the waiting time - whatever work u do in India should reflect on your long term interest. doing a hs in dermae or eye and asking for a job in hand o wont look good. as soon as u know when u are coming over for ur plab 2, start applying for attachments.
-make ur cv and keep updating it. what seems good to u today will seem like crap in a months time..
-PG- from my point of view, pg graduates have an edge when it comes to passing exams, doing staff grade posts, and even getting the first jobs, but consultants who are in the shortlisting process can answer that better. I think it comes to a point where the consultants decide on the basis of their personal experiences - no one likes obnoxious rigid pgs, who might argue with u :) , then again, some would prefer having an sho who wont call u up for every little thing.
whether you will succeed or not.
tough!
when i came to uk, the rule was we will succeed, but we don't know how long it will take and how much it will cost. people living here without a job for over a year was not unheard of even then. The problem now is that the costs have increased, and the visa has become a pain.
-one of my friends from nrs has agreed to mail some info to the group bout doing atls courses here, another might give us info bout the indian courses etc.
till then....
S
Posted by nrsmc
at 11:36 PM BST