The birth of British geriatric medicine and its struggle for survival as a medical specialty

Geriatric medicine in Britain was born in the setting of a former poor law workhouse in London. Its early pioneers developed models of geriatric services and instigated research into the diseases pertinent to older people. Government initiatives championed the establishment of geriatric units but denied geriatric medicine the status of a clinical medical specialty. Despite an unfavourable image within the medical profession, medical services for older people flourished under the National Health Service to become one of the largest groups of medical specialties.

Being the ‘med reg’: an exploration of junior doctors’ perceptions of the medical registrar role

The role of the medical registrar is challenging and acknowledged as being a disincentive to a career in medicine for some junior doctors. We set out to build a broader understanding of the role through exploration of Foundation Doctors’ and Core Medical Trainees’ perceptions of the role. Data, gathered from focus groups, were analysed using a framework approach. Six key themes were identified, which were grouped under the headings ‘perceptions of the medical registrar role’ and ‘transition into the role’.

Geriatrics for juniors: tomorrow’s geriatricians or another lost tribe?

Background: To meet the needs of the ageing population, more geriatric medicine doctors are required. We aimed to determine: (i) career preferences of junior doctors with an interest in geriatric medicine, (ii) factors influencing the likelihood of junior doctors undertaking a career in geriatric medicine and (iii) whether a geriatric medicine conference for junior doctors influenced their views on the specialty and their likelihood of choosing it as a career option.