Has she been "mis-sold" this job?

DullGreyGuy

need_some_help1 said:

saker75 said:

I was a HE careers adviser when these postgrads started appearing. I confess I urged caution because I couldn’t see where the role would fit - it was like biomedical science, full of failed wannabe doctors. No doubt the role will evolve - my GP practice has one and she comes across as very engaged and knowledgeable. The loan makes this seem more transactional but with any academic programme there’s never a guarantee of employment or progression.

I would suggest that not all biomedical science degrees are full of wannabe doctors. 

Full? No, but it is certainly where a lot of them ended up. Our uni did allow those doing life sciences to transfer to 2nd year med school to fill in the shoes of those that didnt make it from first year. In my year think there were 3 places, 60-80 or so applicants. 

Dont recall how many students there were but with the uni saying the department has more than 1,000 staff you've got to imagine it was a small proportion applying

EnPointe

DullGreyGuy said:

need_some_help1 said:

saker75 said:

I was a HE careers adviser when these postgrads started appearing. I confess I urged caution because I couldn’t see where the role would fit - it was like biomedical science, full of failed wannabe doctors. No doubt the role will evolve - my GP practice has one and she comes across as very engaged and knowledgeable. The loan makes this seem more transactional but with any academic programme there’s never a guarantee of employment or progression.

I would suggest that not all biomedical science degrees are full of wannabe doctors. 

Full? No, but it is certainly where a lot of them ended up. Our uni did allow those doing life sciences to transfer to 2nd year med school to fill in the shoes of those that didnt make it from first year. In my year think there were 3 places, 60-80 or so applicants. 

Dont recall how many students there were but with the uni saying the department has more than 1,000 staff you've got to imagine it was a small proportion applying

however  when you  look at the first degrees of those who  enter Medicine as  either graduate  entries to  5  year MBBS or to the specific Grad Entry  courses  you  see  a significant number of (none  accreddited ) BMS, graduates  plus various other  degree titles such as Physiology   

equally the Graduate Entry  courses which were originally sold as  being for other Health Professionals who wished to "change codes" it became very apparent that the Doctors running those Grad Entry MBBS courses didn't want 'filthy mudbloods' to dominate their courses , add in  Prescribing being extended  to HCPs other than  Doctors and Dentists and the numbers of  those 'changing codes' dropped right off

saker75

need_some_help1 said:

saker75 said:

I was a HE careers adviser when these postgrads started appearing. I confess I urged caution because I couldn’t see where the role would fit - it was like biomedical science, full of failed wannabe doctors. No doubt the role will evolve - my GP practice has one and she comes across as very engaged and knowledgeable. The loan makes this seem more transactional but with any academic programme there’s never a guarantee of employment or progression.

I would suggest that not all biomedical science degrees are full of wannabe doctors. My son studied biomedical sciences at Imperial college who were very explicit that they would not allow a transfer onto a medical degree - ideal for him as he has zero interest in being a doctor. He went on to complete a PhD at Cambridge and is now doing research into medicines to help those with diabetes - never happier than peering down a microscope!! The biomedical sciences degree enabled him to explore a variety of life sciences. I doubt if he would have ended up in his current career had he not been able to complete such a broad based first degree.

You’re absolutely right. It was a real pleasure working for those who were genuinely interested in the field rather than trying to use it as a springboard (which rarely worked anyway). I wasn’t dismissing the courses or profession, just lamenting the mindset of some of the students we had - we were Russell Group London and biomed courses were very good. 

Nothanks

To answer the question about a class action - in short; no. 

It’s essentially a redundancy situation if the roles change enough to be unrecognisable with the typical options to accept alternative employment with the attached small print about trial periods etc or take the redundancy payout. 

I agree it’s rubbish and short sighted but that’s public sector for you. 

EnPointe

Nothanks said:

I agree it’s rubbish and short sighted but that’s public sector for you. 

PAs in the UK were the idea  of the  Medical Royal Colleges and it was them who  pushed the idea to the DHSC , asserting they would be 'better' than the 'filthy mudblood' ACPs  employed on Agenda for Change Contracts and who retained their Original Primary NMC  or HCPC Registrations  as well as completing  the by  now well Established  prescribing course  anda  Master;s degree in Clinical practice , on to of the  the several years post registration  experience required to access the ACP pathway. 

to blame ' the public sector'  is muddleheaded  when it is the Government who have failed to  expand Medical Pre and Post  registration  education and  have created a situation where the UK saw many UK Medical Graduates leave for elsewhere in the world after either the Foundation programmme or when they CCT'd ...  but this is straying into discussion of current Politics 

Nothanks

Your understanding of the field is clearly above and beyond mine, but if it’s due to poor decision making by government…isn’t that what I was saying?