Thank you for this insightful video! Can you please suggest some tips on how to write the perfect email to send to the consultants/HRs for clinical attachments? ☺
Hey sure! Please personalize it according to your CV!! Sending generic emails will not help. Highlight 1/2 of your achievements. Talk about your interest in the speciality and learning about the NHS. Attach your updated resume, IELTS result, PLAB 1 result and PLAB 2 booking/PLAB 2 result to this email for thier reference You can also attach a motivation letter. Keep it short and simple! Hope this helps!
Hi Rupali, thanks a lot for such a informative video. Which ALS should i do eALS or 2 days one? there's quite a cost difference. Also, i have herd that ALS by ERC is recognised too. what are your views?
@@Winniethepooh_Q Both ALS and e-ALS are considered equivalent qualifications. The only difference is the cost (ALS is more expensive than e-ALS) and CPD points (which you don’t need to worry about at this time). I would personally recommend the e-ALS which is also what I did after securing my first job.
hi Rupali, hope you are doing well, i like your work, very interesting, i am a uk citizen and in my final year of medicine in Ukraine due to war from last semester of my 4th year till now majority of the study is online. do you think paid elective will boost my portfolio, and what are the step to follow.
@@mazullahmassi8387 Hello, if you want to do an elective to learn more about the system, that’s definitely a good option but I personally think when it comes to job applications, doing an attachment after graduation is more likely to be beneficial
Hi, so for UK doctors there is something called as taster weeks that they can do in a speciality of their choice. It works similarly to our attachments and gives them expore to a speciality of their liking especially since they might not have rotated through it during their foundation years. It also shows their commitment to the speciality :) Hope that answers the question!
@@qiumills5686 Clinical attachments are essentially a stepping stone to working in the NHS. So ideally the consultants and trusts are getting a junior doctor who already has an idea of how the department functions, making the transition easier on both sides. We (junior doctors applying for attachments) also cover the administrative costs involved in the attachments so it doesn’t burden the trusts any more. Hope that explains it!
You can do an attachment for as long as you like - anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks. Some established attachment programs are for 4/8 weeks so it's quite flexible!
A very informative video however I'm wondering if only graduates are eligible for the clinical attachments. I'm currently a 5th-year medical student and looking for ways in general as an IMG to understand the NHS system.
You can apply for a clinical placement instead ! Just email consultants directly, takes a lot of time and a lot of rejections but a few nice ones may reply!
Hi Rupali. Thank you for sharing your journey. May I know when did you apply for clinical attachment? Was it before Plab2 or after succeeding in the Plab2? And when do you think its the right time to apply?
Hi, I started applying for attachments as soon as I had booked my PLAB 2 exam since I knew it takes a few month to find a good attachment and for the documentation process. I also wanted to have a few options in terms of the attachment. So I would recommend sending out the emails as soon as you have a confirmed PLAB 2 date.
Hi could i please know what are some hands on skills required as part of ur jon as fy2 (like venupuncture, cannulation, lumbar puncture, intubation etc)
So as an FY2, you would be expected to have these clinical skills signed off - 1. Cannulation 2. Venepuncture (Blood collection) 3. Arterial Blood Gas 4. Blood Culture Collection from peripheral sites 5. Urethral catheterisation for males and females (in practice, normally done by the nurses but still needs to be signed off to do it as doctors) +/- Using airway adjuncts/putting in NG tubes / ophthalmoscopy / otoscopy (depending on the job you're applying to) Intubation is done by the anesthetic team. Lumbar punctures are done by senior clinical fellows/medical registrars. You can ofcourse include it in your skills but it's important to understand your limitations and expectations of the grade of job you're applying to. For a higher level role, you would be expected to have more clinical skills signed off. Hope this helps!
I've given my Plab 1 and waiting for the results which will come in March 2024. To start looking for clinical attachment, is it recommended to have my plab 1 result and a date for plab 2 exam, or can I start looking for it starting now?
Hi, you should start looking for emails of consultants you would like to approach - that takes a bit of time. Once you know your exam date, you can send out the emails :)
Hi, it’s not a letter of recommendation that they need - that’s for USMLE. It’s a reference letter. But for a reference letter, You need to get a letter signed by your medical superintendent / rota coordinator / supervising consultant/ in-charge RMO (basically a supervisor) if you worked after graduating. Or a professor/ consultant if you only recently graduated and haven’t worked. A reference letter talks about your work experience, your skills and your character. Ideally, it should be on the hospital letterhead with the dates of your job/education and a sign and stamp of the person signing it. Hope that helps :)
Hello doctor! I’m an intern right now and wanted to know if it’s compulsory to pass PLAB 1 before applying for the clinical attachment or if I can apply for it with just the OET certification?
You can try to apply for attachments before your PLAB 1 but I wouldn’t particularly recommend it since some trusts require you to have passed PLAB 1 and 2. Furthermore, your PLAB 2 would prepare you better for understanding clerking and referrals which information would benefit you during your attachment :)
Hi, so you can speak to your consultants about ongoing research projects. There is usually a lead consultant for research in the department. You will also find information from posters in the department, trust websites and trust magazines. Another good place to check is the hospital library and the librarians and education team can often direct you to the people to contact about ongoing research.
You have both kinds of clinical attachments- free and paid (where you pay the admin fee). The costs I have mentioned are in total. However, in some places like London, they offer attachments at a weekly cost.
Hi doc, thanks so much for the video. So i sent a mail to a consultant in cardiology at a hospital in the UK and I'm yet to get a response. Do you think I can mail another consultant in a different specialty?
As I mentioned in my NHS job applications video, it is more competitive than before but still doable! Jobs are available throughout the year but most jobs open during May-July for the August start and during Nov-Jan for the February start. Hope that helps!
It depends. The purpose of an attachment is for you to familiarise yourself with the NHS system. If you're unsure of where in the UK you'd like to work/stay - North/Midlands/South England/Ireland/Scotland then you can try doing multiple in different cities/trusts to figure out your preferance. But if you have a general idea of where you'd like to live and work then 1 is sufficient. Doing multiple doesn't add to your CV but several people end up doing multiple in hopes of getting a job in the 2nd/3rd trust where they did the attachment - but that's more of a last resort sort of thing.
@@simrankaplash4276 yes, there are ERC recognised ALS courses in India which you can do. These are recognised in the UK. However they are expensive and cost around 60000-70000 inr
I don't remember the exact name unfortunately since I had applied via the NHS Scotland website and didn't really follow up on it since I wasn't keen on going to Scotland
People get jobs without clinical attachments as well. Clinical attachments help you understand the system, make connections with consultants & registrars and provide opportunities for teaching, audits & BLS/ALS which are likely to help you with the job hunt. Some trusts give preference to clinical attachés since they already know the hospital but it doesn’t guarantee a job. Some have to do multiple attachments to get a job. It is only a boost! Hope that helps!
I don't think it is necessary for you to do a clinical attachment since there are pently of middle grade jobs available with your experience at the moment but you can always get in touch with ophthalmology consultants in the UK to do an attachment to familiarise yourself with the system.
You would have to coordinate with the HR and consultants both. The HR would ask you to send over paperwork and coordinate the occupational health check.
Even before emailing the HRs and consultants...is it necessary to have police clearance certi..or only when they demand it in the emails we have to apply and get that done ??
You can apply for a police clearance certificate beforehand but keep in mind the PCC is only valid for 3 months (in most countries) so you need it to be valid when you get your clinical attachment
perfect video ,much needed ,a sign of relief,thanks rup
ali,even our best friends dont tell about such information,
So nice of you! Glad it's helpful!
Lovely.
Well done, Rupali.
Thanks!
Thank you for this insightful video! Can you please suggest some tips on how to write the perfect email to send to the consultants/HRs for clinical attachments? ☺
Hey sure! Please personalize it according to your CV!! Sending generic emails will not help.
Highlight 1/2 of your achievements.
Talk about your interest in the speciality and learning about the NHS.
Attach your updated resume, IELTS result, PLAB 1 result and PLAB 2 booking/PLAB 2 result to this email for thier reference
You can also attach a motivation letter.
Keep it short and simple!
Hope this helps!
Hi Rupali, thanks a lot for such a informative video. Which ALS should i do eALS or 2 days one? there's quite a cost difference. Also, i have herd that ALS by ERC is recognised too. what are your views?
@@Winniethepooh_Q Both ALS and e-ALS are considered equivalent qualifications. The only difference is the cost (ALS is more expensive than e-ALS) and CPD points (which you don’t need to worry about at this time). I would personally recommend the e-ALS which is also what I did after securing my first job.
Excellent video. Thank you so much.
Thanks! Glad it's helpful!
Thankyou so much ❤ very detailed
Glad it's helpful!
thank you so much
@@Emb-hs no worries! Glad it’s helpful!
hi Rupali, hope you are doing well, i like your work, very interesting, i am a uk citizen and in my final year of medicine in Ukraine due to war from last semester of my 4th year till now majority of the study is online. do you think paid elective will boost my portfolio, and what are the step to follow.
@@mazullahmassi8387 Hello, if you want to do an elective to learn more about the system, that’s definitely a good option but I personally think when it comes to job applications, doing an attachment after graduation is more likely to be beneficial
I like you. You’re very very easy to listen to!
Thanks! Hope you find the video helpful 🫶🏼
Hiya, great video. I understand the benefits for graduates to do the clinical attachment. But what are the benefits for the UK doctors ?
Hi, so for UK doctors there is something called as taster weeks that they can do in a speciality of their choice. It works similarly to our attachments and gives them expore to a speciality of their liking especially since they might not have rotated through it during their foundation years.
It also shows their commitment to the speciality :)
Hope that answers the question!
Sorry for not being clear, I meant the benefits for the UK consultants and NHS trusts who accepts international doctors to do the observership.
@@qiumills5686 Clinical attachments are essentially a stepping stone to working in the NHS. So ideally the consultants and trusts are getting a junior doctor who already has an idea of how the department functions, making the transition easier on both sides.
We (junior doctors applying for attachments) also cover the administrative costs involved in the attachments so it doesn’t burden the trusts any more.
Hope that explains it!
Well detailed. Is there any stipulated duration for the clinical attachment as per no of hours a day, how many days a week and how many months?
You can do an attachment for as long as you like - anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks. Some established attachment programs are for 4/8 weeks so it's quite flexible!
@@rupsgotnochillthanks for your reply.
A very informative video however I'm wondering if only graduates are eligible for the clinical attachments. I'm currently a 5th-year medical student and looking for ways in general as an IMG to understand the NHS system.
Hi, you're unlikely to be acccepted for a clinical attachment as a student but you can still try reaching out to consultants and ask to join.
You can apply for a clinical placement instead ! Just email consultants directly, takes a lot of time and a lot of rejections but a few nice ones may reply!
Hi Rupali. Thank you for sharing your journey. May I know when did you apply for clinical attachment? Was it before Plab2 or after succeeding in the Plab2? And when do you think its the right time to apply?
Hi, I started applying for attachments as soon as I had booked my PLAB 2 exam since I knew it takes a few month to find a good attachment and for the documentation process. I also wanted to have a few options in terms of the attachment. So I would recommend sending out the emails as soon as you have a confirmed PLAB 2 date.
Hi could i please know what are some hands on skills required as part of ur jon as fy2 (like venupuncture, cannulation, lumbar puncture, intubation etc)
So as an FY2, you would be expected to have these clinical skills signed off -
1. Cannulation
2. Venepuncture (Blood collection)
3. Arterial Blood Gas
4. Blood Culture Collection from peripheral sites
5. Urethral catheterisation for males and females (in practice, normally done by the nurses but still needs to be signed off to do it as doctors)
+/- Using airway adjuncts/putting in NG tubes / ophthalmoscopy / otoscopy (depending on the job you're applying to)
Intubation is done by the anesthetic team. Lumbar punctures are done by senior clinical fellows/medical registrars.
You can ofcourse include it in your skills but it's important to understand your limitations and expectations of the grade of job you're applying to.
For a higher level role, you would be expected to have more clinical skills signed off.
Hope this helps!
I've given my Plab 1 and waiting for the results which will come in March 2024. To start looking for clinical attachment, is it recommended to have my plab 1 result and a date for plab 2 exam, or can I start looking for it starting now?
Hi, you should start looking for emails of consultants you would like to approach - that takes a bit of time.
Once you know your exam date, you can send out the emails :)
Is any type of letter of recommendation acceptable, or is there any specific format for the LOR?
Hi, it’s not a letter of recommendation that they need - that’s for USMLE. It’s a reference letter.
But for a reference letter,
You need to get a letter signed by your medical superintendent / rota coordinator / supervising consultant/ in-charge RMO (basically a supervisor) if you worked after graduating.
Or a professor/ consultant if you only recently graduated and haven’t worked.
A reference letter talks about your work experience, your skills and your character.
Ideally, it should be on the hospital letterhead with the dates of your job/education and a sign and stamp of the person signing it.
Hope that helps :)
Thanks for the info
Is it the same if someone do it in surgery department?
Yeah surgical departments would work similarly - you would have ward/OT/OPDs to rotate through
Hello doctor!
I’m an intern right now and wanted to know if it’s compulsory to pass PLAB 1 before applying for the clinical attachment or if I can apply for it with just the OET certification?
You can try to apply for attachments before your PLAB 1 but I wouldn’t particularly recommend it since some trusts require you to have passed PLAB 1 and 2.
Furthermore, your PLAB 2 would prepare you better for understanding clerking and referrals which information would benefit you during your attachment :)
Thanks a lot doctor ! Could you also share your experience on how to get a job after plab 2 and attachment ?
Yes! I will upload a video about it soon!
How to find the research projects on going in the hospital ?
Hi, so you can speak to your consultants about ongoing research projects. There is usually a lead consultant for research in the department.
You will also find information from posters in the department, trust websites and trust magazines. Another good place to check is the hospital library and the librarians and education team can often direct you to the people to contact about ongoing research.
It would have been so convenient if people compiled a common list of all the consultants area wise, would save weeks from everyone's lives lol
@@Ajills there are 100s of consultants in the NHS and that does seem like a good idea but a rather time consuming task.
@rupsgotnochill Please clarify if the attachment is paid and the cost you mentioned Is it per week or the total duration??
You have both kinds of clinical attachments- free and paid (where you pay the admin fee). The costs I have mentioned are in total.
However, in some places like London, they offer attachments at a weekly cost.
Hi doc, thanks so much for the video. So i sent a mail to a consultant in cardiology at a hospital in the UK and I'm yet to get a response. Do you think I can mail another consultant in a different specialty?
Hello, yes you can :)
Thankyou
How hard is it to land a SHO job in the nhs now? When is the jon applying season in the nhs
As I mentioned in my NHS job applications video, it is more competitive than before but still doable! Jobs are available throughout the year but most jobs open during May-July for the August start and during Nov-Jan for the February start. Hope that helps!
Does it have a good impact if i do many clinical observership
It depends.
The purpose of an attachment is for you to familiarise yourself with the NHS system.
If you're unsure of where in the UK you'd like to work/stay - North/Midlands/South England/Ireland/Scotland then you can try doing multiple in different cities/trusts to figure out your preferance.
But if you have a general idea of where you'd like to live and work then 1 is sufficient.
Doing multiple doesn't add to your CV but several people end up doing multiple in hopes of getting a job in the 2nd/3rd trust where they did the attachment - but that's more of a last resort sort of thing.
Can we do ALS in India as well?
@@simrankaplash4276 yes, there are ERC recognised ALS courses in India which you can do. These are recognised in the UK. However they are expensive and cost around 60000-70000 inr
Which hospital did you apply to in Scotland?
I don't remember the exact name unfortunately since I had applied via the NHS Scotland website and didn't really follow up on it since I wasn't keen on going to Scotland
is it necessary to get a clinical attachment for getting a job in the UK?
People get jobs without clinical attachments as well.
Clinical attachments help you understand the system, make connections with consultants & registrars and provide opportunities for teaching, audits & BLS/ALS which are likely to help you with the job hunt.
Some trusts give preference to clinical attachés since they already know the hospital but it doesn’t guarantee a job. Some have to do multiple attachments to get a job. It is only a boost!
Hope that helps!
@@rupsgotnochillthank you dear ❤
Any experience for consultant ophthalmologist from india having fellowship training and DNB degree for clinical attachment ts ? How to proceed ?
I don't think it is necessary for you to do a clinical attachment since there are pently of middle grade jobs available with your experience at the moment but you can always get in touch with ophthalmology consultants in the UK to do an attachment to familiarise yourself with the system.
If we send the email to a consultant and he agrees for the attachment then is it enough or do we have to contact the HR as well
You would have to coordinate with the HR and consultants both.
The HR would ask you to send over paperwork and coordinate the occupational health check.
Even before emailing the HRs and consultants...is it necessary to have police clearance certi..or only when they demand it in the emails we have to apply and get that done ??
Thank you so much
You can apply for a police clearance certificate beforehand but keep in mind the PCC is only valid for 3 months (in most countries) so you need it to be valid when you get your clinical attachment
What if we’ve lost our immunisation records
I think Occupational Health takes care of that, we go and provide blood and they check it for antibodies
@@arfaa584 thanks !
Hi, Doc,ALS and BLS done in India is not valid in the UK?
Hello, only Resusitation Council UK (ResusUK) and European Resuscitation Council (ERC) courses are valid in the UK.
@@rupsgotnochill Thank you doc. for the info.
I thought ALS was under 100 pounds 😮😮
So ALS costs anywhere between 500-700 pounds while e-ALS is anywhere between 300-500 pounds
Thank you very much
Glad it's helpful!