To think I could study medicine aged 48?

[Nooname01]

Just that really.

I've long wanted to be a doctor but thought I couldn't for various reasons.

I am academic enough (v high achiever, 1st class degree in a different discipline) and we could afford it financially.

Dc would be 16, 14, 12 and 8.

Would I just be too old on graduating though?

I think this has moved from the whole too old to do medicine to why the hell would anyone want to do it?!
Some pros, some good experiences; helping others. However the reality is people seem to have a crap work life balance imposed on them. So so glad the decision was made for me. Never regretted it

I've been in loads of hospitals, when I've been ill and with relatives who have been poorly. Not once did I think any of them were cool and vibrant places have you been watching Greys Anatomy?

OP I hope you find something that suits you and your family commitments.

Nobody ever believes me that I love hospitals! No it's not because of Grey's Anatomy :o I'm not even a big hospital drama fan, apart from ER maybe.

I just like the atmosphere. I'm sure there are terrible hospitals with low morale where it's not so good, but if I could get a job in a hospital tomorrow (unlikely with my skillset, though not impossible) I'd be v. happy.

I work in one and LOVE it.

I did take some time out to do a community based role but I missed the ward environment so much. I went back to the hospital after 3 years out and it feels amazing to be back on a ward

If you really want to work in healthcare, the other professions may be better at that age. It was common in my nursing cohort to have a wide range of ages (from 18yo up to 50) at the start.. If it's the academic challenge, that's available now in nursing and midwifery. 10 years after qualifying, I've completed extra training and can now assess, diagnose and prescribe independently, so I've in no way stood still since I became a registered nurse. And more and more, hcps other than doctors are taking on increasingly complex roles (e.g physiotherapists can now train to be supplementary prescribers)..

If you really want to work in healthcare, there are many many other roles which are less time-consuming to study, and have the potential to provide increasingly challenging roles outside medicine.

Interesting thread.

Id normally be in the "go for it" camp but after reading the full thread i have to say it sounds physically and emotionally draining, I'm only 28 and wouldn't have the energy for all that!

Nursing could perhaps be an option?

I'd definitely consider a profession allied to medicine. As well as those mentioned already there's podiatry, prosthetics and various others.

www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/allied-health-professions/careers-in-the-allied-health-professions/

All of which have a shorter training period than medicine and many would have more civilised, family friendly hours (not paramedic obviously). You could finish the degree by 45 and have a good 15 years work in you at least, before thinking of retirement.

Or, given your legal background, perhaps something at the General Medical Council? I know this may not be a popular choice with the doctors on the thread, but they employ legal people. Solicitors, paralegals etc.

Radiographers usually do on call at night.

Not something I'd want to be doing at 60+.

I haven't read all the preceding posts, so may have missed lots of vital info, but I think you should at least try. I did a graduate entry (4 year) course eons ago when I was 28 and there were quite a few people in their early 40s. Yes, it's hard work but having children is good preparation for juggling lots of tasks, and that is a vital skill in medicine.
I think that's it misses the point to say that you won't qualify as a consultant for X years or as a GP for Y years, because you'll be working as a junior doctor from qualifying, which is both enjoyable and means you are "paying the NHS back" for your training. You need to be realistic about the specialities that you might be able to do - surgery or anaesthetics, for example, are going to be harder to do as you get older - but it's not impossible.
And the amount that you have to move around for jobs varies a lot from region to region too. I've done nearly all my training posts within a 15 mile radius of where I live. I work part time, have 4 children, and doing medicine was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Why not at least try?

Another wannabe doctor here. I suspect the reality is I'm just not clever enough. I changed my A Levels from science to arts because I just didn't click with them. (maybe that was a clue) I'd already schlepped around the country going to medical school open days. I even dreamt of doing it at the Sorbonne in Paris, in French! but I ended up doing an Arts Degree. I was always conflicted between science and arts. My post grad qualifications were in a vocational science field (I'm a food inspector now)

I have previously looked into postgrad medical degrees, in the UK and Aus. I seriously would have moved to the other side of the planet at 26 with my baby to do it, despite nonevent having been there, if it meant I could become a doctor.

I'm 35 now and I still regret not trying. But it's never going to happen for me. That's hard to accept. Like not having a third child. I'll always be broody for them, but know it won't happen.

However, I'm so going to one of the PA course open days! Who knows where that might lead?! So thanks for the great thread Noo I have no advice just lots of sympathy and empathy for where you are!

And then in read a post like compos and think "could I?"

Sorry if you've already answered this but what is it about being a Dr that attracts you?
Would you consider occupational therapy? Much more family friendly,
You'll need experience to get into it though I think

Fascinating thread. I've always known that the life of a hospital doctor was a tough one, but from the sounds of things the French Foreign Legion sounds like a less intimidating prospect.

I agree with those saying to do something similar Medicine itself is very stressful, and I'm sure it's more stressful at an older age .I'm usually the first to encourage people,but think life would be easier if you did something similar and less stressful ..

I am in my early fifties and a consultant. I regularly get home at 7-7.30 although I am supposed to be finished at 5. I spend many holidays stressed and worried about patients who are not improving,things that i may have missed, complaints that i may get because it is impossible to fufill the expectations placed on me in the time i have. I have to do work at home frequently. However I dont have to make life-saving decisions in the middle of the night any more or do the acute work undertaken by junior doctors ,and having done this in my youger years I absolutely know there is no way I could cope with it safely at my age. Yes - age and bringing up a family brings maturity and empathy that might be lacking in some younger doctors but your life would change in a way that would be sometimes wonderful but often emotionally stressful in a way that you wont have experienced before -and the amount of time-physically and emotionally that you would have left over for your family would reduce dramatically

I would want to study psychology if I had my time again. I know someone who studied that largely by distant learning and just some face to face several times a year.

I thought they didn't do on call at night past a certain age norah?

Paramedic? Start now instead of waiting 8 years?
Assume shift work is no issue for your family

If you like the hospital environment (which I do, otherwise I wouldn't work in one) have you thought about training as an ODA?

You do some scrubbing/assisting in surgery, some anaesthetics, some recovery, 3 year (or it was!) training course. You'd have to be on call though, but it's easier than medicine in terms of training length, plus you can generally stay in the same area. Some aspects are just as hard (anatomy, physiology and physics!) if you're after the academic challenge.

Thanks lost in wales that's really interesting and helpful, I did look into it before so will do so again. We're in norwich, I think the nearest training was Cambridge from memory.

Oh compost heap now you've made it sound doable again!!! Maybe I should go talk to the medical school at my local uni and see what they say....

I've done nearly all my training posts within a 15 mile radius of where I live.

That is incredibly unusual.

I would recommend trying to talk to some junior doctors op. There is how medicine is as described by medical schools and how it is in the real world.

I know a nurse who qualified aged 52, she was planning on working at least 15 years.

If you really want to do this, start planning now to make sure all of your qualifications are up to date.

Yes I do need to really start working out what I need to do to get ready for any training entry reqs.

Thanks hic, I've just looked and my local uni does the training for ODP...

Thanks everyone, this thread is so useful! And I hope for others considering similar things too.

Thanks nooddsocks for your insight.

This thread has given me a renewed respect and gratitude for all the doctors/consultants out there. You do an amazing job and make/have made huge personal sacrifices to do a job that truly helps others. Thank you!