What is an NHS hospital physician?
A physician is a hospital doctor who focuses on the non-surgical treatment of patients’ conditions. Even though they do not do operations like surgeons, many physicians are practical; with a range of investigations and procedures that relate to their specialty.
They often work closely with surgeons, e.g. nephrologists with transplant and dialysis access surgeons.
So, tell me more about what is an NHS hospital physician.
Acute Physician
These doctors specialise in the immediate and early specialist management of adult patients with a wide range of medical conditions who present in hospital as emergencies – for example sepsis, COPD, heart failure and acute kidney injury (AKI). They may deal with the problem on their own, if you can get better in 2-3 days; or transfer you to the care of the relevant specialist.
Their work is a form of general medicine. In the USA, the work is done by internal physicians, or hospitalists.
Cardiologist
They are experts on the heart. You might see them for heart failure, a heart attack, high blood pressure, or an irregular heartbeat.
Dermatologist
A dermatologist is doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating the skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologists care for people of all ages.
Endocrinologist
These are experts on hormones and metabolism. They can treat conditions like diabetes, thyroid problems, infertility, and calcium and bone disorders.
Emergency Medicine Physician
They work in an Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department. They specialise in advanced cardiac life support, resuscitation, trauma care for fractures and soft tissue injuries, and management of other life-threatening conditions.
Gastroenterologist
The are specialists in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including stomach, bowels, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. You might see them for abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhoea, jaundice, or cancer in your GI tract. They can also do an endoscopy and colonoscopy.
Genitourinary (GU, or Sexual Heath) Physician
They diagnose and treat people with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS. They also provide family planning advice, contraception, and care if you have been sexually assaulted.
Geriatrician (or Gerontologist, or Healthcare of the Elderly (HCE) or Care of Elderly (CoE) Physician)
These doctors care for the elderly. They diagnose and treat acute illnesses, chronic diseases (including dementia), disability and frailty.
Haematologist
These are specialists in diseases of the blood, spleen, and lymph glands – e.g. sickle cell disease, anaemia, haemophilia, and leukaemia. They also work in the laboratory.
Intensive Care Physician (or Intensivist)
They care for people who are critically ill or injured, in intensive care units (ICU) in hospitals. You might see them if your heart or other organs are failing or if you have been in an accident.
Infectious Disease (ID) Physician
They diagnose and treat infections in any part of your body, like fevers, COVID-19, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and HIV and AIDS. Some of them specialise in travel medicine.
Medical Geneticist
They diagnose and treat hereditary disorders passed down from parents to children. These doctors may also offer genetic counselling and screening tests.
Neonatologist
Newborn premature infants or critically-ill infants are the focus of neonatology, which is a subspecialty of paediatrics. Neonatologists generally work in neonatal intensive care units.
Nephrologist (or Renal Physician)
They treat kidney diseases, organise (and try to prevent) dialysis and kidney transplantation. They also focus on high blood pressure, and fluid and mineral imbalances linked to kidney disease.
Neurologist
These are specialists in the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. They treat strokes, brain and spinal tumours, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Paediatrician
They care for children from birth to young adulthood. Some specialise in pre-teens and teens, child abuse, or children’s developmental issues.
Respiratory Physician
You might see these specialists for problems like lung cancer, pneumonia, asthma, COPD (emphysema), and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA; trouble sleeping caused by breathing issues).
Rheumatologist
They specialise in arthritis and other diseases in your joints, muscles, bones, and tendons. You might see them for your osteoporosis (weak bones), back pain, gout, tendinitis and fibromyalgia.
Sleep Medicine Physician (or Specialist)
They find and treat causes behind your poor sleep. They may have sleep laboratories or give you tests at home to chart your sleep-wake patterns.
Sports Medicine Physician (or Specialist)
These doctors diagnose, treat, and prevent injuries related to sports and exercise.
Summary
We have described what is an NHS hospital physician. We hope you understand it better now.
