Planit


Surgeon

Surgeon working in operating theatre with theatre team

Surgeons diagnose and treat disease or disorders in patients that need surgical treatment in hospital. They specialise in different types of surgery dealing with specific parts of the body such as the heart and lungs or the brain and nervous systems.

The Work

The main areas of surgical specialty are:

You could be:

Pay

As of April 2024, in most junior posts (Foundation Year 1) you would earn a basic salary of £31,082 a year, increasing to a basic of £38,553 a year in Foundation Year 2. In specialist training salaries start at £40,995, rising to a maximum of £64,461 a year (depending on the length of training).

Training salaries increase between 20% and 50% with supplements, depending on the number of extra hours and intensity of work involved. A doctor in the new specialty doctor grade earns between £58,198 and £90,688 a year.

A consultant's salary ranges from £96,963 to £128,841 a year.

Conditions

Workforce Employment Status

LMI data powered by LMI for All

Useful Subjects

Getting In

To qualify as a hospital doctor you need a degree in medicine and surgery (SCQF Level 10) which is recognised by the General Medical Council (GMC).

Other requirements:

After your degree you do a 2-year foundation training programme, which gives you registration with the GMC, which you need to work as a Surgeon (see 'Training' below). You can find work as a surgeon with both the National Health Service (NHS) and in private hospitals.

Workforce Education Levels (UK)

LMI data powered by Lightcast

Job Outlook Scotland

Employment

LMI data powered by Lightcast

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland
2024
13437
2.5 %
RISE
2029
13775
  United Kingdom
2024
165853
4.9 %
RISE
2029
173973

LMI data powered by Lightcast

What Does it Take?

You need to have:

You also need to be:

Training

Getting On

More Information

If you want a taste of what it is like to be a doctor have a look at the Medic Insight programme. This is a week long programme aimed at fourth and fifth year pupils in Scotland who are interested in becoming doctors. It is run by Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee universities. See the university website for details.

For more information have a look at the You can be a Doctor website which will give you all sorts of information about how to get into medicine.

Video

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.

British Medical Association (BMA) (Scotland)
Tel: 0131 247 3000
E-mail: BMAScotland@bma.org.uk
Website: http://www.bma.org.uk/
Twitter: @TheBMA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBMA

General Medical Council (GMC)
E-mail: gmc@gmc-uk.org
Website: http://www.gmc-uk.org/
Twitter: @gmcuk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GMCUK

NHS Scotland Careers
Website: http://www.careers.nhs.scot
Website (2): https://jobs.scot.nhs.uk/
Twitter: @NHSScotCareers

University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
Tel: 0161 855 7409
Website: http://www.ucat.ac.uk
Twitter: @UCATofficial
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UCATofficial

Was this article useful?
Please help us improve Planit by rating this article.

Career Area

Health and Medicine

Career Sectors

Alternative Medicine

Related courses by level

No courses listed.

Ambulance Services

Dentistry

Dietetics

Medical Technology

Medicine and Surgery

Nursing and Auxiliary Work

Occupational Therapy

Ophthalmics and Orthoptics

Pharmacy

Physiotherapy

Podiatry

Radiography

Speech Therapy

Therapists

Related courses by level

NC and NQ and Access