Medical Officer query

[Hopeful_MO]

Ladies and Gents

I have decided at the grand old age of 31 to go down the route of training as a Doctor. Ideally, I would like to do this in the RAF. I have spoken with RAF Medical Recruiting and I know i'm not too old (on paper) and have some interesting info. I didn't even consider the Army or Navy until told to do so by friends, but once I did, I came straight back to the RAF!

I suppose i've come on here to get the real life gen on what life in the RAF as a Doctor/MO is REALLY like, warts and all!

I would be grateful for any information you can give me and I may even have an additional question or two!

I understand that if I were able to secure a cadetship I would have to attend at a UAS, which I clearly have no issue doing. But I thought the UAS' were for the younger students or would I be accepted at this age? (That is one question I forgot to ask the recruiters).

 

[Downsizer]

Not sure we have any docs on here, but there are a fair few nurses. They'll probably be able to offer some advice....

 

[JPJ83]

PM me. I may have some useful insight

 

[penfold93]

The RAF will not train you as a Doc but there is nothing stopping you applying for a scholarship and joining a UAS those that get accepted get some monetary support but that should be information you can get from the recruiting gurus.

Once trained you will rotate around roles (GP, hospital specialities) before you decide down which route you want to go.

GP's support the aeromed role and can be called upon to act as part of an aeromed team, they will also deploy as AECO's who are responsible for assessing a patients 'fit to fly' status, the deputy SMO at Bastion is RAF. If you go down the ED route then you could deploy to Bastion in the ED and after gaining experience will move on to work on MERT. If you go on to do anaesthetics then again ITU/theatres in Bastion but also you will eventually become part of the CCAST teams and do the AE of ITU patients. All specialities apart from GP's are all based in civillian hospitals either at a MDHU or a trust that you wish to work/train at that offers professional support. Just a quick insight and if you want to know more about another spaeciality PM me and I will let you know

 

[Hopeful_MO]

Penfold

Thanks for your reply and apologies for my initial post which makes me look like I think the RAF actually train you as a Doc. I'm not that stupid...honest! I was actually meaning bursary/cadetship but I didn't type that!! I must have thought you guys are mind readers!

I understand that MERT lands on the front line and extracts a casualty by way of Chinook and is basically a flying A&E. I believe that a MERT consists of a tri-service Anaesthetist or Emergency Medicine Specialist, RAF Emergency Nurse, RAF Paramedic and a RAF Medical Assistant.

AND

I also understand that CCAST is based on a Hercules and is basically a flying Intensive Care Unit getting casualties back to the UK. I believe that a CCAST consists of a Consultant Anaesthetist, 2 critical care nurses, a medical equipment support technician and a flight nursing attendant.

BUT

Can I ask what GP's supporting the aeromed role do and also what they do when called upon to act as part of the aeromed team? Is an aeromed team different to MERT and CCAST?

I have to say that 3 of the 4 roles I am interested in doing are mentioned above. The 4th, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, as I understand it, is obviously not a part of the armed forces medical services (due to a lack of need for the skills).

Of course, at this stage it is hard to decide what I would like to do for sure and could find the roles I find attractive now might not be for me!

 

[JPJ83]

The vast bulk of aeromed work is performed by nurses and medics - this is the so-called "routine" moving of lower-dependency patients around the world.

Some of those flights may also include an MO for the care of patients with problems outside the professional scope of a nurse - usually a GP, but sometimes a specialist physician (e.g. cardiologist).

CCAST isn't always on Hercules, and can utilise any of the (servicable? - chortle) AT aircraft in the fleet - normally the C-17 at the moment.

 

[Hopeful_MO]

Moving on...

What is life like as a RAF MO? E.g. Hours worked, professional support etc?

Also, i've read that MO's go on 3 month tours, compared to other members of the RAF who do 6 month tours. Is this true or a media misinterpretation? What is the timescale of returning back on tour after the last? E.g. Would you do two 3 month tours in 12 months?