You'll examine, diagnose and treat patients. You'll specialise in a particular area like:

• surgery - care for patients before, during and after an operation
• medicine - treat general medical conditions and work in specialisms like cardiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, geriatrics and neurology
• paediatrics - manage health conditions that affect babies, children and young people
• pathology - investigate the cause of disease and the effect on patients
• psychiatry - work with patients experiencing mental health problems like depression, anxiety, personality disorders and addiction
• anaesthesia - give anaesthetics for surgery and medical procedures
• obstetrics and gynaecology - care for pregnant women and their unborn children
• oncology - treat patients with cancer

Depending on your role you might also:

• lead a team of medical staff
• manage a department
• teach and supervise trainee doctors
• write reports and keep GPs informed about the diagnosis and care of their patients

You may need to wear a uniform.

You could work in an NHS or private hospital.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

With experience, you may go on to lead a team or manage a department.

With experience and entry on the General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register, you could apply for senior or consultant roles.

You may also progress to teaching and training students, trainee doctors and other healthcare professionals.