To change careers and become a doctor at 39?

[ValleyOfTheTramadols]

Just that really. I have a degree and a masters in humanities and history respectively but have always been interested in science and medicine as well. My masters specialised in medical history. I’ve spent a lot of time in hospital with my son recently and I have developed a strong urge/feeling/calling to retrain in medicine. I would have to sit A levels in two science subjects before applying to a medical course but I could do that in a year. Then with the six year medical degree and first foundation year I could be a ‘full’ doctor by the age of 47. Nearly 20 years or more left of a career by then. I only recently completed my masters so I’m used to intense study as an adult and I can afford it financially. But am I just deluded?

@SilverOtter - good luck with the rest of your degree and your training. It will be exhausting at times, but you get through it - it seems likely only yesterday I was at your stage, and most of my peers at med school are consultants and GPs now.

I recommend GP training if you find hospital training hard. You only have to do four years of that, and you become an independent practioner early, with a lot of flexibility in where and how you work.

Have a look into Physician Associate training. A lot of GP consults are now done by PAs. Faster training and 40-50k salary without all the additional stress and responsibilities GPs take on...

I would never advise someone who wants to be a doctor to be a nurse or physicians associate instead. There is so much scope for even more “what if”, doing that. I also wouldn’t describe it as an “easy” road either. I qualified as a nurse in 2008 aged 35. At 47 I am now a prescribing nurse specialist, nhs, £47k. It has taken a lot of hard slog to get here and there is constant CPD, audit, training etc. To be honest, I wouldn’t even want someone who hadn’t had years of training and studying to be making such important decisions! As far as I am aware, Physicians Associates cannot prescribe medication (although will stand corrected), and there is no career progression either. The FY1s who train in our clinic don’t seem to hold them in very high regard I wonder what the politics is like there day-to-day. Anyway, OP if you’re absolutely desperate to be a Doctor I wouldn’t do anything else - but, in reality, at your age it will be one very hard slog and you won’t be in a position of seniority until retirement age. If you’re prepared for that, go for it.

*48, gosh I am already making myself younger 🤣

Also jumping in to say Nursing is a completely different job and there is no guarantee of progressing to ANP (nurse practitioner) or nurse consultant.

OP I think you would be bonkers tbh, not so much the uni part, but the junior Dr years are brutal.

Do it. My cousin went into medical school at 45 and now at 55 is a GP. We live longer healthier lives now, and are expected to keep working until 70 and beyond, so why shouldn’t you go into medicine if that’s what you want? One of my DC’s professors even told him that older med students are more likely to work as a doctor after graduation.

Working in the NHS is the absolute pits sorry to say. Being a doctor should be amazing, but the nhs lack of care for staff absolutely ruins it. Sorry OP prob not what you wanted to hear

I really don't think you should do this. It won't make you happy. The age of 47 is quite old to be starting as a 'full dr.' I remember when I qualified, one of the junior Drs ahead of me saying, 'this is just your ticket to ride!'

@Ozanj

Do it. My cousin went into medical school at 45 and now at 55 is a GP. We live longer healthier lives now, and are expected to keep working until 70 and beyond, so why shouldn’t you go into medicine if that’s what you want? One of my DC’s professors even told him that older med students are more likely to work as a doctor after graduation.

That money could have been spent more wisely, then again, the whole NHS and it’s funding is a joke

Interesting to read the reasons why universities can't take in more students - thanks to those in the thick of it who have shared their insights.

Retraining is something I've considered, but it's the state of the NHS that puts me off. As an employer, they don't seem to value doctors (and other healthcare staff too). If you study medicine for that length of time, and sink a tonne of money into tuition fees, it must come as a slap in the face. Ideally you'd want to be able to learn and do your job properly, safely, while also being adequately supported.

I'm reading Adam Kay's book just now and it's grim stuff. Doctors who can't get time off for their own wedding. Sleeping in hospital car parks. Long constant neverending shiftwork, and then moving around the country at the drop of a hat. It sounds like a hard, almost nomadic life with no concept of work-life balance -- I don't know how doctors with young families do it??