Do those with PhDs in the NHS use their title?

[Jellyfish15357]

Wondering how common it is for people with PhDs but aren’t clinical staff to use their title if they work in the NHS.

Does anyone work in the NHS and know how widespread it is?

I’m starting a new job and I’m wondering weather to get Dr or Ms on my paperwork.

I’m assuming whatever is on my contract will go on ID cards and admin stuff. I don’t tend to put it on my email signature and I don’t introduce myself using it, I just say first name last name.

My PhD isn’t relevant to current role but I’d like to progress to a research role in the NHS where it would be required.

I’d like to progress to a research role in the NHS where it would be required

In that case I'd use it from the start. Do not hide your light under a bushel.

I’d ask when your line manager when you fill in paperwork for ID badge. It’s not usually done on your contract paperwork but yet another form to fill in. Will you have any patient contact? If yes, I’d be cautious about having dr on badge as I know someone who got their wrist slapped for trying to insist dr went on badge as it was felt to be misleading to patients which I do think is understandable.

ID cards don’t usually have a title on, and personally I wouldn’t have one in there
Yes I’d use it if you’d like to elsewhere

@SpinningTheSeedsOfLove this is what I’m thinking. It could lead to interesting conversations about research/career development opportunities.

On the other hand I’m concerned it may lead to confusion if people think I’m medically trained. But I’d not introduce myself as Dr blah to avoid confusion.

@LeroyJenkinssss yes it’s patient facing and building up a relationship is an important part of the job.

That’s good if it wouldn’t be on the ID card anyway.

I’ve used it on Trac to match what I put in the qualifications section - I wondered if this would be carried through. Now would prob be a good time if I wanted to change it.

All the clinical scientists I know who have PhDs would use it - of course introducing themselves to a patient they would say 'Hi, I'm Josie, I'm one of the physicists who will be looking after your care' rather than 'Hi, I'm Dr Smith'

Titles are on their way out in general IMO, whether Miss/Mrs/Dr/Duchess or anything else, they usually aren't on ID badges in the NHS and most people don't use them on their emails or when introducing themselves (either to colleagues or patients) aside from the odd awkward person who insists on full title and all letters after name in all circumstances, who is generally regarded as a bit uppity or in the case of the older generation of doctors who are still quite formal, fondly regarded as harmless but a bit past it. You don't really want to be pigeon-holed as either TBH so I'd avoid using any title at all if you can . Of course people explain what they do to the people they're treating but usually by reference to job/role ('Hi Mrs So-So I'm Bob, one of the brain surgeons here' is far more relevant and understandable than 'Good morning Mrs So-So, I'm Professor Robert Very-Important a consultant neurosurgeon MBBS MRCS MBE'
as well as making you seem more like a human being and less like a dinosaur ). With colleagues people again tend to use job titles or, rather more ubiquitously, grades (I'm Jo, a Band 7 in the Finance team', rather than 'I'm Mrs Joanne Smith a Chartered Accountant).

I would certainly put it on your HR paperwork as your correct title and obviously no need to pretend you don't have a PHD if it comes up in conversation but otherwise I wouldn't worry you'll be mistaken for a doctor, 99% of the time it will be perfectly obvious from context what job you do and the remaining 1% of the time it will probably go in your favour as people do still defer a bit more to medical staff than equally well qualified other clinicians or managers anyway

The NHS is a very first name place now, increasingly so for doctors who were the only ones who weren't.

ID cards usually won't have Dr on - just name and job role with a focus on clarity for patients. You don't choose anyway, the ID badge person does as it's a house style.

It would be your choice to use it in email, and why wouldn't you, you worked for it.

I use mine in my email , but not on my ID badge as I'd be terrified I'd be mistaken for an actual doctor

Depends.

I used to work with a research nurse who had a PhD. Her name badge (not ID badge) said Dr Jane Jones as did her email signature and that was how she answered the phone etc.

The issue I (& others) had with this was that it is entirely reasonable for patients & lay members of the public to assume, when in hospital, that the person named Dr Jones is in fact a medical doctor. Especially elderly or vulnerable patients.

No one knows what someone’s PhD is in, that’s the problem. Hers was in a very niche form of ancient tapestry making. Yet she freely used her qualification at work, as a research nurse.

Why would you do that?! It baffles me.

The psychologists do.

I use mine, as do all the other physicists in the dept who have them, whether they have PhDs or professional doctorates. Mine's also on my name badge (though admittedly it's about 20 years old!) and it does say my job title too so I can't be easily mistaken for a medic. That and I don't walk about with a stethoscope round my neck.

One of the senior Consultants calls the PhDs 'proper doctors'.

@maxelly thank you for your insight. This is very helpful. I’ve only worked in universities prior to this and titles are more commonly used but I think it’s becoming less so there as well. Interesting about people including band in introductions - no one would mention their grade in the University. I guess banding is more closely tied to training in the NHS so could imply what you’re qualified to do.

One of the senior Consultants calls the PhDs 'proper doctors'.

I’ve encountered profs doing this as a reverse in unis

@AnnaMagnani - It would be your choice to use it in email, and why wouldn't you, you worked for it.

I would usually support this view, but the job is a bridge between clinical staff and patients so appearing to belong to one group or the other might be counter productive to building relationships.

@AgathaMystery I agree with you about the title being used on a name badge in a hospital setting.

In relation to the PhD being in a creative (non medical subject) - all research qualifications are standardised and she will have been

… she will have gone through training in research menthols in relation to her subject (whichever it may be) to get her PhD. Not all medical research is down the line quantitative/natural sciences based and her years experience on the job as research nurse may actually equate to more than a PhD. So I wouldn’t have had an issue with this.

I think most use it when it's relevant to their role, so psychologists, physicists, biomedical scientists would. But where staff have a PhD, but one wouldn't be required for the role, probably not. For example a junior lab assistant at my work has one and insists everyone calls him doctor - people think he's a bit of a prat.

I actually would also take issue with someone in a patient facing role calling themselves doctor where it isn't relevant to the role e.g. the research nurse above. It's inappropriate. I don't know any one who does that. They would likely just put PhD in their email signature.

@Squashpocket yes I can imagine being insistent wouldn’t endear you to colleagues.

@maxelly the only using your first name is great… if you’re male. I am the only female surgeon in my department. I introduce myself as “Miss Leroy, one of the surgeons” because otherwise I seem to default to being a nurse in patients eyes.

My badge (and all doctors whether surgeons or not) have doctor so-and-so. I asked why not Miss but was told (quite reasonably) it’s for patient clarity.

I don’t think I’m a dinosaur - I’m only in my thirties!

I do but my PhD is directly relevant to my role and whilst I work for the NHS, I collaborate very closely with academia and hold a couple of honorary contracts at unis. Dr FruitToast was put on my badge by my line manager when I started (he also has a PhD). Never had a problem with anyone thinking I'm a medic as my job title is on my badge and I'm stuck in the lab most the day. Unless I'm talking to students we all use first names anyway. Very rarely do I even call the consultants/professors by their titles.

The few people I know who do this don't insist on being called Dr, nor have it on their badge, but they do use it in emails and when presenting etc.
The format would be something like
Dr Carolyn Minton, PHD Dementia Nursing
Or
Dr Amy Whitten, Clinical Psychologist (non medical)

Oh but do use your title when speaking to IT or estates. I find Dr FruitToast gets me a lot further than my first name!!

I work in the policy side of things and yes people put PhD in their email signatures rather than use Dr to distinguish themselves from the medical doctors. 100% use it, in my experience you will be highly respected for it.

I work in the NHS and even the Drs don't insist on being called Dr Simpson - they would say I'm Bart Simposon one of the Drs in the team or I'm Bart Simpson the consultant looking after you.

In the case of the research nurse - again she is Marg Simpson research nurse. the Phd isn't relevant to the role in that context.

People insisting on using Dr in their title are viewed as a bit pretentious. Even roles that require a PhD such as psychologist don't do it because to the patients you are the Bart Simpson psychologist . Of course the rest of us know and expect our Bart Simpson has the PhD.