Different types of hospital doctor in the UK
Acute Physician
These doctors specialise in the immediate and early specialist management of adult patients with a wide range of medical conditions who present in hospital as emergencies – for example sepsis, COPD, heart failure and acute kidney injury (AKI). They may deal with the problem on their own if you can get better in 2-3 days, or transfer you to the care of the relevant specialist.
Their work is a form of general medicine. In the USA, the work is done by internal physicians, or hospitalists.
Anaesthetist
These doctors are responsible for providing anaesthesia and pain management before, during and after operations, procedures and childbirth. They monitor your vital signs while you are under anaesthesia.
Cardiologist
They are experts on the heart. You might see them for heart failure, a heart attack, high blood pressure, or an irregular heartbeat.
Colorectal Surgeon
You would see these doctors for problems with your small intestine, colon, and bottom. They can treat colon cancer, haemorrhoids, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Dermatologist
A dermatologist is doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating the skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologists care for people of all ages.
These are experts on hormones and metabolism. They can treat conditions like diabetes, thyroid problems, infertility, and calcium and bone disorders.
Emergency Medicine Physician
They work in an Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department. They specialise in advanced cardiac life support, resuscitation, trauma care for fractures and soft tissue injuries, and management of other life-threatening conditions.
Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgeon (or Otolaryngologist)
They treat diseases of the ears, nose, throat, sinuses, head, neck, and respiratory system. They also can do reconstructive and plastic surgery on your head and neck.
Gastroenterologist
The are specialists in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including stomach, bowels, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. You might see them for abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhoea, jaundice, or cancer in your GI tract. They can also do endoscopy and colonoscopy.
General Practitioner (GP)
They care for the whole family, including children, adults, and the elderly. They also do routine check-ups, screening tests and immunisation, and look after long-term medical conditions. They are often the first to recognise major health problems, referring patients to a hospital specialist.
General Surgeon
These doctors can operate on all parts of your body. They can take out a tumour, appendix, or gallbladder, and repair hernias. Many surgeons have subspecialties, like breast, thyroid, upper gastrointestinal, colorectal or vascular surgery.
Genitourinary (GU, or Sexual Heath) Physician
They diagnose and treat people with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS. They also provide family planning advice, contraception, and care if you have been sexually assaulted.
Geriatrician (or Gerontologist, or Healthcare of the Elderly (HCE) or Care of Elderly (CoE) Physician)
These doctors care for the elderly. They diagnose and treat acute illnesses, chronic diseases (including dementia), disability and frailty.
Haematologist
These are specialists in diseases of the blood, spleen, and lymph glands – e.g. sickle cell disease, anaemia, haemophilia, and leukaemia. They also work in the laboratory.
Intensive Care Physician (or Intensivist)
They care for people who are critically ill or injured, in intensive care units (ICU) in hospitals. You might see them if your heart or other organs are failing or if you have been in an accident.
Infectious Disease (ID) Physician
They diagnose and treat infections in any part of your body, like fevers, COVID-19, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and HIV and AIDS. Some of them specialise in travel medicine.
Maxillo-facial (‘Max-fax’) Surgeon (or Oral Surgeon)
They carry out surgery on the face, head and neck, mouth, and jaws. This includes facial plastic/cosmetic surgery, e.g. for a cleft lip or palate.
Medical Geneticist
They diagnose and treat hereditary disorders passed down from parents to children. These doctors may also offer genetic counselling and screening tests.
Microbiologist
They support and oversee the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infections caused by microorganisms (viruses, fungi and parasites). Some work mainly in the laboratory. Others, called ‘clinical microbiologists’ work on the wards as well.
Neonatologist
Newborn premature infants or critically-ill infants are the focus of neonatology, which is a subspecialty of paediatrics. Neonatologists generally work in neonatal intensive care units.
Nephrologist (or Renal Physician)
They treat kidney diseases, organise (and try to prevent) dialysis and kidney transplantation. They also focus on high blood pressure, and fluid and mineral imbalances linked to kidney disease.
Neurologist
These are specialists in the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. They treat strokes, brain and spinal tumours, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Neurosurgeon
Neurosurgeons assess, diagnose, and carry out surgery on the central nervous system, including the brain and spine.
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (O&G)
These doctors focus on womens’ health, including pregnancy and childbirth. Some of them focus on womens’ reproductive system (gynaecologists), e.g. for heavy periods, endometriosis, cancer of the cervix, ovaries, or uterus (womb), or infertility. Others specialise in caring for pregnant women (obstetricians).
Oncologist
They focus on the treatment and prevention of cancer, administering chemotherapy and radiotherapy. They work closely with surgeons to help patients with cancer.
Ophthalmologist
These are medical doctors who can treat every kind of eye condition as well as operate on the eyes.
Orthopaedic Surgeon
These are doctors who specialise in surgery of the musculoskeletal system – including bones, joints, ligaments and muscles. Some carry out surgery on people that have had trauma as well.
Pathologist
These are laboratory doctors that identify the causes of diseases by examining body tissues and fluids, often under microscopes.
Paediatrician
They care for children from birth to young adulthood. Some specialise in pre-teens and teens, child abuse, or children’s developmental issues.
Plastic Surgeon
Plastic surgeons are focused on reconstructive procedures. They look after patients with birth disorders, injuries, illnesses, or burns – operating on the skin, face, hands, breasts, or body. That can happen after an injury or for cosmetic and other reasons.
Psychiatrist
These doctors work with people with mental, emotional, or addictive disorders. They can diagnose and treat depression, schizophrenia, substance abuse, anxiety disorders, and sexual and gender identity issues. Some psychiatrists focus on children, adolescents, or the elderly.
Radiologist
These are doctors that use x-rays, ultrasounds, CT and MRI scan, and other imaging tests, to diagnose diseases.
Respiratory Physician
You would see these specialists for problems like lung cancer, pneumonia, asthma, COPD (emphysema), and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), i.e. trouble sleeping caused by breathing issues.
Rheumatologist
They specialise in arthritis and other diseases in your joints, muscles, bones, and tendons. You might see them for your osteoporosis (weak bones), back pain, gout, tendinitis and fibromyalgia.
Sleep Medicine Physician (or Specialist)
They find and treat causes behind your poor sleep. They may have sleep laboratories or give you tests at home to chart your sleep-wake patterns.
Sports Medicine Physician (or Specialist)
These doctors diagnose, treat, and prevent injuries related to sports and exercise.
These are surgeons who care for men and women for problems in the urinary tract, including the kidneys and bladder, and prostate gland (in men). Problems include stones, cancer and infection. They also treat erectile dysfunction.
Summary
We have described the different types of hospital doctor in the UK. We hope it has been helpful.
Last Reviewed on 10 March 2024