To consider studying medicine as a mature student

[KatePantalon]

I am 38 and have previously worked as an OT. I have been a SAHM for 4 years. I also have a masters degree in Health Psychology. It has always been my dream to be a doctor but had little confidence when I was younger.

1. Is there any way I can get into medicine?
2. Would this be mad? most probably
3. What could be a route in?
4. I have dc 8&11. How would this work without family support?

Shoot me down! I know IABU. Just needed to get this post out of my system. and bury the dream

Have you read the thread below...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3649460-To-think-medicine-isnt-a-great-career-choice?pg=1&order=

Someone did a mature entry thread a while back that I wrote on.

Summary was: do it if you must, but the NHS is really, really shit right now, so make sure you have a true burning desire to do this.

Who will look after your 11yr old when you’re on a week of nights?

You are not too old

However how would you finance the course ?
How many years would it be for ?

Why can't you use your existing degree for employment ?

I wouldn't say don't do it, as that's up to you, but do go in with your eyes open. The NHS is at breaking point, and only getting worse.

My sister did a degree in biology workedfor a ew years did a phd and then went into medicine so yes very doable.

I don’t think they take at that age do they unless a qualified dentist for example and going into maxillofacial surgery?

I went to Liverpool and was one of the oldest at 23

Do OT consultant roles exist, similar to physio consultant. Would that be better? Aim to do a PhD and set up or lead a service?

You can do a medical degree at any age if you meet the requirements. There was some one in the news who qualified 60+ I believe

There is no retirement age now

@Sunshine1239 They certainly do. What a ridiculous statement.

Do you know any junior doctors? I’d suggest speaking to a couple if possible, to get a realistic view about the working conditions, new contract etc.

Even if they in theory they do take I -imagine the reality of being admitted in terms of numbers is very low.

It doesn’t sig right with me that so much money is thrown into educating someone who can give say 15-20 years above someone who could commit to say 40 years
Esp when competition is so high

Unless those students funding themselves

Have you got any work experience OP?

You could contact some medical schools you are interested in and ask if they could put you in touch with any mature students, to get a feel for the course, etc. Maybe go to an open day?

Many medical schools have something written similar to this on their sites which makes me think reality in terms of admission is harder

I wouldn’t wish being a doctor in the NHS on my worst enemy at the moment. Let alone advise anyone to go into it as a mature student.

It's not the medical training which would be the toughest. It's when you qualify and you're doing your foundation years. Depending on the area you live in you can be "posted" significant distances each year. The deanery decide which hospital you're going to work at. One year you might work 70 miles east of your home, the next year 30 miles west. It's like being in the army.

I know a lot of junior doctors and this is something they've struggled with. I'm not sure if some specialisms are worse than others though.

Do you have relevant A-levels to study medicine?

Have you read This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay? It's a stark reminder of the gruelling life of a junior dr (but also a hilarious read!)

But tbh If I were you I'd focus on your OT career & build on that. What area of work were you in? Could you specialise further- PHD? Masters in research?

I think you’re too old OP. I’d think about the physician’s assistant degree instead.

The degree won’t be too hard but as someone above said, the foundation years are killer. Tired to your bones, up with a newborn type killer and then some.

1.) I wouldn’t go into medicine now with the state the NHS is in 2.) I couldn’t go through my foundation and junior years in my forties, not a chance.

I’m an NHS doctor OP. It’s a really tough life. And it’s very complex to discuss why, really. I’m almost too exhausted to explain. I might try posting again tomorrow if I have some time to try to give you some understanding of why it’s such a hard career choice.
Have you thought about why you want to do this and what speciality you would want to work towards?
Do you know much about postgraduate training, how long it takes and postgraduate exams? If you want to be a GP you will need to train for a minimum of 5 years postgraduation, so that’s minimum 10 years in total. Many GPs have trained for much longer of course as many have worked in other specialities before changing to GP. But 10 years is the quickest it can be done.
If you want to be a hospital specialist it’s 8-10 years following graduation, so minimum 13-15 years.
And some specialities require additional related masters, pHDs etc.

Have you looked at becoming a physicians assistant? 2 year course. We have one on our team and she’s amazing. Clerks patients, does procedures, assists in theatre, can’t prescribe currently but I believe that will change. Far better hours than our junior doctors.

If you are a strong character, I don't see why you can't achieve your dream. However, do you have a partner or husband who will support you long term. What happens if he has a dream, he wants to fulfill ?

Certainly not too old and I’m very surprised anyone went to a med school in the last ten or 15 years and was one of the oldest at 23. Certainly not my experience. The oldest students at my med school were in their early 40s with a number in their 30s. Two women in my cohort had four children each.

You do need to think really hard about why you want to do it though - it is very very different from an allied health role and will involve significant sacrifice.

*Trixie" I think it very much depends on the medical school and the year. My year at medical school was mostly 18 or 19 years olds (many had taken a gap year), and a few graduates. Everyone under 25 as far as I knew.

I started work at 8am yesterday. I have have so far had no sleep. I finish at 8am tomorrow. I have not seen my three young children since Friday evening.
I have been spat at by a drug addict, called a f- ing c--t by a relative, been covered twice in vomit and blood and told two people they will die. I have genuinely performed major life saving surgery on 4 people just today but to be honest the toll it takes on my husband, kids and emotional well-being to allow me to do this job it massive.
Yes I am well paid, but for this amount of responsibility and the years I sacrificed working nights, weekends and sitting exams so should I be. Currently sat here waiting to start my next major operation fuelled by caffeine.