What is a junior doctor?
All ‘junior doctors’ are fully qualified doctors that may treat you in hospital or at your GP surgery – and may save your life.
But they are now known as ‘resident doctors’ (see below). This term also includes 2 more senior groups, previously called ‘registrars’ and ‘specialty doctors’.
A junior doctor is a doctor undergoing about 4 years further training, after 5 (range 4-6) years at medical school (university) – making a total of 9 years. If they want to be a GP, an extra year is done – making a total of 10 years. If they want to be a hospital consultant they need a further 6 years training (then called a ‘registrar’) – making a total of 15 years.
Either way, yes, it is quite a long time.
Supervision
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 4 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.
Names in 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’.
New name
The term ‘resident doctor’ was officially adopted by the British Medical Association (BMA; a UK doctors’ union) on 18th September 2024, replacing the previous terms ‘junior doctor’ and ‘registrar’ and ‘specialty doctor’. The latter two groups are more experienced than a junior doctor, i.e. nearer to a consultant.
The Government has also agreed to follow this terminology.
Summary
We have described what is (or was) a junior doctor. The phrase is now falling out of fashion. They are now known as resident doctors.
