Hospital doctors treat those who have been admitted or referred to hospital. Specific responsibilities vary greatly depending on the area of specialism, but can include the following:
providing general pre- and post-operative care
monitoring and administering medication
assessing and planning treatment requirements
liaising daily with staff including other doctors, non-medical management staff and healthcare professionals
writing reports and maintaining records
promoting health education
managing a department
leading a medical team
keeping GPs informed about the care of their patients
teaching and supervising trainee doctors
Hospital doctors can work in a number of specialties, including the following:
anaesthetics
emergency medicine
general medicine
obstetrics and gynaecology
pathology
paediatrics
psychiatry
surgery
trauma and orthopaedics
Typical employers of hospital doctors
Doctors are employed by the NHS, private sector hospitals, charitable/voluntary organisations and the armed forces.
Vacancies for hospital doctors are advertised online on the NHS website, in national newspapers and publications such as British Medical Journal.
Qualification and training required
You can only become a doctor with a relevant degree and training.
The first stage of qualification is a five-year undergraduate medical education at a medical school attached to a university. You usually need a minimum of three A levels at AAA or AAB or equivalent, in subjects including chemistry and either biology, physics or maths. You will also normally need a minimum of at least five GSCEs at grade 7/A or equivalent, in subjects including English and maths, and a good pass grade in science. When you apply for a course in medicine you may be asked to take the UK clinical aptitude test (UKCAT) or BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT).
Applications to most medical schools are made through UCAS and should be submitted in the autumn of the year before the course starts. The standard length of this stage is five years. However, graduates may be able to take an accelerated four-year course. The typical entry requirement is at least a 2.1 degree, preferably in a scientific subject. A graduate who doesn't match these criteria could take an 'Access to Medicine' course.
The next stage is the two-year foundation programme, entered via a national application process that is largely online.
The final stage is core speciality or run-through training, when doctors specialise in areas such as paediatrics, emergency medicine or neurosurgery. This takes three to seven years depending on the speciality and doctors are awarded a certificate of completion training when they have satisfied the assessment requirements.
Key skills for hospital doctors
Ability to work long hours, often under pressure
Good practical skills
Ability to solve problems
Effective decision-making skills
Leadership and management skills
Communication skills, compassion and a good bedside manner
Drive to continue learning throughout career
Analytical ability
Time management
