Planning and doing a fellowship: advice during the COVID-19 era

To paraphrase Shakespeare, to do, or not to do a fellowship, that is the question. That may be your question; whether or not to pursue a fellowship, even more so due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are...

Challenges in urology during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: a trainee perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected urological practice in many ways and at all levels. Social media has been set alight with the hashtag #NoTrainingTodayNoSurgeonsTomorrow highlighting the undesired consequences of the reduction in training opportunities. The impact has been considered by...

Should it be a mandatory requirement for medical students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to attend clinical attachments?

The vast majority of medical students have positive attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine for themselves and patients, however, what about the small inevitable minority who resist it? Should they be prevented from attending clinical attachments in the NHS? It is...

The effect of COVID-19 on urology training

COVID-19 has affected all aspects of medicine. Urologists have been called upon to work in vastly different working environments including acute pan-surgical teams, intensive care and medical wards. The strategies put in place by hospital management teams vary significantly across...

COVID-19: the impact on a junior registrar

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic I was a trust grade junior registrar, using this year at a district general hospital to gain experience, skills and portfolio points for round two of National Selection. My urology registrar on-call duties would consist...