UK user

I have been browsing this site for a couple of months, and it looks like a great, informative and supportive forum to talk about relationships with doctors.

I am a bit different in that my boyfriend is a trainee surgeon in London, and I am not entirely sure how the different grades translate, but he is a Senior House Officer at the moment.

He is coming out of a career break and is therefore investing everything that he has into his career, but I knew what I was letting myself in for when we starting seeing each other. We have known each other for over a year, but have only been together for about seven months.

I am pretty sure, however, that he is very special, and I am prepared to do almost anything to make the relationship work, as long as I remain true to myself but am already struggling with the demands of his career, and where I feel that puts me in his priorities.

If I'm honest, I dont really know what I am letting myself in for, so this seems like a good place to get some insight. Just thought I would introduce myself and look forward to being part of the forum.

[houseelf]

Welcome from the other side of the pond!

I'm not quite sure what a senior house officer is--akin to what we refer to as "residency" or clinical training? If so, we may have a lot in common. My hubby is a third year surgical resident. I am interested to hear your perspective on residency in the U.K. and life in general. We yanks would benefit greatly by learning a thing or two from our allies. Anyway, welcome aboard.

Kelly

[DCJenn]

Hi There!

Welcome to the Board.

Here's the way it works here in the US (and those of you in other countries- can you let us know your systems)

College (4 years), also will be referred to as Undergrad

Medical School (4 years) (you'll see people refer to the specific year of medical school- the system is pretty much the same across the board- mostly classroom stuff the first two years, mostly clinical stuff the second two years)

Residency- First year is the Internship year, also known as PGY1- Post Graduate Year 1. Residency can take three or more years. PGY2, PGY3, etc.

Fellowship- Additional training beyond residency that is area specific. These years can also be referred to as PGY(?) depending on how long this has all taken.

Some people also do MD/PhD programs which mess everything up.

After they've finished with training- wither at the resident level or fellowship level, they become staff.

Hope this helps!

Jenn

[PrincessFiona]

Welcome

Hi and welcome to the boards. My husband is german and he did one year of residency in Northern Ireland, so I'm familiar with the whole jho/sho terminology! For those of us in the US, JHO is similar to an intern, and and sho is similar to a resident......

I know that in Northern Ireland the Senior House Officer's often had to move after each year....do you guys have to do that in London as well?

I am really interested in hearing more about your experiences!!

Kris

Thank you very much for your replies. It is really interesting to hear your perspectives and also how it compares with over here.

My bf qualified as a doctor in '93 (he is 29), and is now training to become an orthopedic and trauma surgeon. He has done part I of his fellowship of the royal college of surgeons exam (FRCS) and is taking part II in February. This is a four part exam, with clinicals in parts III and IV.

He spent five years at Medical School, one year as a House Officer and has been an SHO since then (including a career break). During this time, he has done his basic surgical training.

He will then (all being equal) spend five years as an SPR (specialist registrar) concentrating on his specialty and gaining higher surgical training.

Finally, fingers crossed, he will become and Mr and a consultant.

I hope this helps to explain what it is like over here. Pretty much the same as you lot I guess- seems like there is no end in sight at the moment. Looking forward to getting to know you all better.

Still not really sure how this compares with the career grades over there- if anyone can shed any more light?

sorry Kris, forgot to answer your question. As SHO's our docs often have to do six month rotations. When you get to where my bf is at, you can stay on, but it is frowned upon and questions are asked. The whole game over here is alot about nepotism and keeping up appearances, as well as a relentless rise to the top. Im sure it is the same with you, but the UK is so small that you do get known.

I suppose it makes rotations easier though, as I read postings on this board where people have to move states, whereas here the furthest you can really go here is a couple of hundred miles.

My bf for one has always worked in the South of England.

[PrincessFiona]

interesting!

I thought that it was really unfair to the residents to have to be moving around so much...they just got comfortable and then they were off again..I guess it was about every 6 months in N. Ireland too...when I look back on our year there, I realize that residents came in/out of our lives during that time.

It was especially hard for the married couples...Northern Ireland is also a small country, but moving around gets old! The politicing there was also very similar...and if you weren't from 'Queens' then you could just forget about moving up.....

We'll have to rope you into doing an online journal or at least an article or two about life as a medical spouse in the UK (OK, forgive me...I had to bring it up )...because your experience is so much different than the experience in the US. I think that people would really be interested in hearing your views.

Kris

I would be happy to... let me know what kind of thread you would like it to follow.

Just been told that my bf is going on a fracture course in Manchester tomorrow- so that is another ten days without seeing him. Our life just seems to go like that- he works in a hospital on the other side of town and when he isnt on call he is often studying, so sometimes ten days goes by without seeing him, and we havent even noticed that it is unusual. I dont know that many medics, and my friends think it is crazy that I see him so infrequently. Of course, when I do see him it is doubly exciting, but after nearly eight months I would love a bit of reality and normality now. Guess that aint going to happen.

I think we are working on quite different timescales here, which is frustrating, as I am at work now. I dont know how far ahead/behind you lot are over there?