What is a junior doctor?
All ‘junior doctors’ are qualified doctors that may treat you in hospital or at your GP surgery, and may save your life.
A junior doctor is a doctor undergoing an average of 10 years (range 8-12) further training, after 5 (range 4-6) years at medical school (university), to be a consultant – making a total of 15 years (range 12-18 years) training.
If they want to be a GP it is 5 years of further training after medical school – making it 10 years of training.
They work under the supervision of a consultant. When a consultant or GP, they are qualified to practice independently without supervision. Here is further information on what a junior (actually) does and a typical day in the life of a junior doctor.
Hence some have up to 12 years of practical experience after medical school. So the title ‘junior doctor’ is a misnomer and often does not reflect their level of experience or responsibility.
They make up almost half of all doctors in the UK. Of the over 125,000 doctors in NHS hospitals and the community in England, over 50,000 are junior doctors.
Where and how they work
For example, you could see a junior doctor on a wardround, in A&E, in an outpatient clinic, in an operating theatre, or a GP surgery.
They work 48 hours a week or more, and may work one in every three weekends; working in blocks of night, late, twilight and day shifts. This can make it difficult for them to see family and friends outside of work.
Different stages of training
In the first two years, junior doctors in the NHS are called ‘FY1s’ and ‘FY2s’ (Foundation Years 1 and 2) – or simply ‘F1s’ and ‘F2s’. After that they have a variety of names, explained here: training as an NHS doctor.
Other countries
In the USA and Australia, a doctor in the early junior doctor stage is called an ‘intern’ (equivalent to F1s). At a later stage (before they become registrars), they are called ‘residents’. A registrar is called a ‘fellow’. Strangely, in the USA, a consultant is called an ‘attending’.
Summary
We have described what is a junior doctor. The phrase is now falling out of fashion. Other phrases are being suggested at present such as ‘doctors in postgraduate training’ or ‘postgraduate doctors (PGDs)’. CKDEx likes the latter phrase and calls on it to be used.
Other resources
Last Reviewed on 14 March 2024