Newly graduated medics help NHS

  • 22 May 2020
  • 2 minutes

In April, 265 final year medical students from the University of Cambridge graduated early, allowing them to seek early registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) and enter the NHS workforce before their expected date in August.

As the largest medical college in Oxbridge, Caius had the most graduating medics – 21. Nearly all have started work much earlier than expected as GMC-recognised doctors for Interim Foundation Year One posts to join the frontline in the current fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

StephanieDCostaTim Venkatesan, one of the newly graduated doctors, is currently working in North London as an FIY1. His first rotation as a doctor involved work in COVID wards and the acute medical unit. He said, “I have really enjoyed my first few weeks working as a doctor at North Middlesex University Hospital. It is an exceptionally friendly place to work and I have felt very well supported. It has been a steep learning curve, learning the ropes and adjusting to the challenges of a different demographic than I have experienced in Cambridge. I feel very fortunate to be able to leave the house and go to work during lockdown!"

Stephanie D’Costa, now an Interim FY1 at Lister Hospital in Stevenage, said, “I'm working in a huge medical rota which means the ward I work on can vary day to day. It's been really interesting and educational and has definitely prepared me a bit more to be a fully fledged doctor in August.

“It's already been a lot of responsibility including looking after deteriorating patients and staying late - but I think there's plenty more of that to come in my future!”

Dr John Latimer, Director of Studies for Clinical Medicine and Praelector said, “All of the medical fellows are immensely proud of the Caius medical graduates of 2020. This year is unusual in many ways. Medical students across the country are graduating early this year. The Cambridge students have been rigorously assessed during their training, and fortunately, because of changes to the exam system, we already knew who was safe to let loose to practise!

“Every last one of them easily passes the 3 AM test - i.e. would we as senior doctors be happy for them to treat us when we are admitted to the Emergency Department in the middle of the night with crushing central chest pain - or, to update, struggling to breathe?

“They are an extraordinary cohort of very talented young doctors and we wish them well in these uncertain and extraordinary times.”

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