About your doctor

• Most medical students in the UK spend five or six years at university to obtain a medical degree. As of 2026 there are 47 medical schools producing around 8000 graduates. 
• All medical students learn in university classrooms and by working with patients in hospitals and GP surgeries. They are always closely supervised and are not responsible for patient care. Examples of what students may do when seeing patients are taking a medical history, performing examinations with consent, and some simple procedures under supervision, such as taking a blood sample. If you do not want a medical student involved in your care, or present during your appointment, your choice will always be respected.
• The university is responsible for the content and delivery of medical school education. The General Medical Council (GMC), which regulates doctors in the UK, sets the standards which all medical schools must follow and ensures that these are being met by the universities. 

• After finishing medical school and graduating with a medical degree, doctors in the UK typically spend two years working in various areas of medicine and surgery, both in hospital and community practice. This is known as foundation training. During this time, they build on their clinical and professional skills but are still closely supervised and assessed. Foundation doctors may spend part of this time working in obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G). 
• Foundation year 1 doctors work under very close supervision. They usually work on hospital wards, in outpatient clinics or assisting in operating theatres. Occasionally, they might help with the care of women and people during or after pregnancy and birth. 
• Foundation year 2 doctors have more responsibility for patients and may see pregnant women and birthing people with health concerns. However, they would always discuss their assessment with a more senior doctor before any decisions are made in partnership with the patient. 

• After the two-year foundation training, doctors then have the option to undertake further study and training in a specific area of medicine. This is often referred to as specialising. 
• Doctors wanting to specialise in O&G can apply for the national specialty training programme, which has a rigorous selection process and is highly competitive.  
• Specialty training in O&G takes at least seven years to complete. Some doctors may take longer. This can be for various personal and professional reasons, such as maternity leave, working less than full-time or to undertake a period of research.  
• The specialty training (ST1-7) includes three exams (called MRCOG 1, 2 and 3) which trainees must pass to earn the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) and be entered on the Specialist Register.  
• Specialty training in O&G is divided into three distinct stages, set out below. As they progress through their training, doctors gain more experience, knowledge, responsibility and competence. During their training they’re a key part of the clinical team, seeing patients in clinics and carrying out procedures, with the support of senior doctors. 

Hospitals may also employ doctors to work at various levels equivalent to doctors in specialty training posts. They are a group known collectively as ‘Locally Employed Doctors’ (LED) and have a variety of names including but not limited to: F3 doctor, Trust Grade, Clinical Fellow, Research Fellow. LEDs make up a significant and growing part of the obstetrics and gynaecology workforce. 

The term ‘resident doctors’ or ‘residents’ is used to describe doctors who are either in postgraduate training (at foundation or specialty training level) or locally employed doctors who are working at the equivalent level. In 2024, doctors represented by the BMA chose to transition from using the term ‘junior doctor’ to ‘resident doctor’. 

• When all their training has been completed, doctors apply competitively to become a consultant (a permanent position in a hospital). Consultants are sometimes called specialists. One named consultant has overall responsibility for the care of each patient. Consultants often lead a team of trainee doctors and are responsible for their training, as well as managing the patients that the trainee doctors see. They also have managerial, educational and organisational roles and usually have a special area of interest. 
• Consultants work in teams so, if your named consultant isn’t on duty, another consultant will always be available. 
• Some specialists undertake private practice, usually in clinics or private hospitals. This may be in addition to, but completely separate from, their NHS practice. A small number of specialists work only in private practice.