Dr. Andrew S. Lindsay, an emergency medicine specialist in London, discusses his career, which includes assessing and treating critically ill patients and supervising medical staff in a high-pressure environment. He highlights the rewarding aspects of a medical career, such as aiding vulnerable populations, while also acknowledging the challenges, including long hours and significant stress. The document emphasizes the importance of early preparation for pursuing medicine, including gaining work experience and understanding medical school requirements.

1. Medicine and Beyond
Dr Andrew S. Lindsay
Emergency Medicine SpR
North East and Central London
12th February 2014

2. About me…
 Emergency Medicine SpR – North
East and Central London
 Currently working at University
College Hospital (London)
 Graduated MB BS Medicine from
Newcastle (2007)
 Particular interests are;
 Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine
 Paediatric Emergency Medicine
 Medical education

3. So what do I do??

4. What I actually do…
 Medical practitioner for 7 years, (6 within the
NHS)
 Part of a total of 1.3 million NHS Employees
 UCH Accident and Emergency department has
135,000 patients per year, (370 per day)
 Initially assessing and treating the most
critically unwell or injured adults and children
 Directly helping the most dependent And
vulnerable people in society
 Often in charge of supervising medical /
nursing care within the entire department

5. My average day…….
 No two days are ever the same, always
depends on what comes through the front door
 Have to be prepared for anything – No matter
how weird or wonderful
 Often very physically and mentally demanding
on 10-12 hours shift
 Can be exciting edge of the seat stuff like
“ER” on TV!!
 Heart attacks, meningitis, strokes, car accidents,
Haemorrage, burns and cardiac arrests
 But can be very unglamorous and harrowing
 Drug overdoses, potentially abused children,
random bodily fluids, boils, bugs and bums, and
drunks, lots and lots of drunks….

6. How did I get to where I am now??
 Started at Leicester University September 1999
 Graduated - BSc (MBioChem) - 2002
 Moved to Newcastle and continued Medicine
September 2002
 Graduated MB BS (Medicine) – 2007
 Foundation training (F1/F2) at Durham University
Hospital
 Moved to London for registrar posts
 Emergency medicine & Acute medicine
 Anaesthetics & Intensive Care
 A&E at the Royal London Major Trauma Centre
 Year out - Olympics and Australia – (2012/2013)
 Returned to London – SpR in Emergency Medicine

7. Why pursue a career in
medicine?
 Rewarding career
 Helping to care for the vulnerable and unwell
 Providing support to patients, families, the
desperate and terminally ill
 Challenging and stimulating
 Many career options and specialties
 Opportunity for foreign travel and practice
 Respected profession
 Similar opportunities throughout the UK
 Quite well paid compared to many other careers
 High level of job security

8. Disadvantages to medicine

High level of pressure, particularly with time pressures and
targets

Very strict codes of conduct and professional ethics

Can be extremely physically and mentally draining

High levels of stress, long hours and can be hard to plan things
around the job

Decisions are often life changing and can be difficult to deal with
if you get it wrong

Can see some of the worst sides of human nature

NHS is ever changing environment, particularly because of
multiple changes in DOH / Government policy

Never ending requirement for further professional assessments,
exams and revalidation

9. How do you get into medicine?
The Application bit…
 Decide early as possible
 Get any kind of work experience possible
(or volunteering, SJA, nursing homes)
 Choose medical schools wisely (Graduate
course / entry requirements / Bursaries
available)
 26 Medical schools now require the UK-CAT
(UK-Clinical aptitude Test to apply)
 Get input from someone in the profession
on your UCAS personal statement (if
possible)
 Get someone good at English to proof read
and check it

10. How do you get into medicine?
Prepare hard for the interview




Medical stories in the media
Current NHS / DOH / Government policies
Know course benefits / structure / ethos at your chosen
university
Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) and foundation
programme websites to understand current career path
and training
 Obtain a person specification from the MMC website


Slant your personal statement to show those qualities
Same qualities in potential medical students as required
in junior doctors to training posts
 Good communications skills are vital


Find anything that demonstrates you have excellent
communications skills
Involved in everything we do

11. Other medical opportunities (1)
 Medical research
 Teaching activities and medical education
 Life support instructor
 Formal links with university institution
 Medico-legal and private practice
 Shaping health care organisation and services





Clinical Commissioning groups (CCGs)
Hospital Management and executive activities
Public Health
DOH / Government advisory roles
Major incident planning and management
 Charities
 MSF, Red Cross, cancer research, British Heart
Foundation

12. Other medical opportunities (2)
 Working abroad
 Australia
 New Zealand
 Canada
 Middle East
 USA / South Africa
 Pre-Hospital Care
 BASICS
 HEMS
 Ambulance services
 Aviation medicine

13. Other medical opportunities (3)
 Expedition medicine
 Event Medicine
 Motor racing
 Sports medicine
 Medical writing, media and journalism

14. Medicine and beyond (1)
 Life support instructor
 ALS
 APLS
 MIMMS
 BASICS
 Major incident management
 Receiving hospitals for
 Hackney riots - (August 2011)
 Tottenham Court Road fire - (December
2013)
 Apollo theatre collapse - (December 2013)

15. Medicine and beyond (2)
 Expedition medic
 Mount Kilimanjaro
 Successfully summited x 2
 London 2012 Olympics Field of play medical team
 Equestrian
 Velodrome
 BMX
 Basketball
 Football

16. Medicine and beyond (3)
 Lead event doctor for
Wakestock festival (July 2012)
 Wembley medical team
 CMO for London 2012 Olympic
football gold medal match
 International and FA Cup final
football matches
 Pop concerts
 American Football (International
series)
 Rugby Leagure World Cup (2013)
 Australian Safari motor racing
 International off road racing
(Motocross, 4WD and Quadbikes)

17. Medicine and Beyond (4)
 Medical Officer for Royal
Flying Doctors Service
(RFDS) – Western Australia
 Pre-Hospital Care (PHC)
 Aeromedical retrieval
 HEMS with FESA helicopter
team
 Police helicopter
 Air-Sea rescue
 Remote area medicine

18. Summary
 Medicine is an exciting and varied career
 Different specialties and opportunities
allow many different career paths
 Its very demanding but the benefits
massively outweigh the downsides
 Plan any application as early as possible
 Tailor it to demonstrate the attributes
medical schools are looking for
 Work experience is a MUST!!!
 Prepare well for the interview
 Know the course structure
 Recent developments in medicine and
within the media

19. THANK YOU
Any Questions??