You're never too old to become a doctor

More mature students are applying for medical school

The number of mature students applying to go to medical school is on the increase.

Five years of study, lectures and long hours have not been a deterrent to a new band of junior doctors, who are now applying to specialist medical courses which take mature students.

New research conducted for the King's Fund, has discovered that older staff are leaving the NHS in droves.

This morning on Breakfast, we looked at what the NHS is doing to recruit and retain older staff.

We spoke to Sandra Meadows from the King's Fund about why so many people are leaving the NHS, and Dr Sam Everington who used to be a barrister but decided to go to medical school

Click here to see our interview with Dr Everington and Sandra Meadows

Sandra Meadows:
One in nine of the one million staff working in the NHS are over 50, that wouldn't be a problem if they were working to 60 or 65.

A number are retiring at 55 and 50 and this places a drain on the resources of the health service.

One of the reasons was the long working hours culture and being asked to do more. People felt locked in a rigid career structure. Also a lot of 'NHS bashing' had led to people feeling demoralised

Dr Sam Everington:
I knew it was something I wanted to do, I've never looked back and I enjoy going to work.

I had to go to medical school for five years funding the first two myself. I just wanted to work with people, I really enjoy getting to know people and being a family doctor.

Great to be Grey

The charitable foundation has published a report called Great to be Grey and looked at the reasons why older staff were leaving their jobs in the NHS.

The research found that there were many reasons why older staff left the NHS early including increased workload, lack of recognition, a culture of long working hours and significantly, concerns about the quality of patients' experience of the healthcare system.

Physical wear and tear and a rigid career structure were two more reasons, but although the report looked at the wider health service workers, one area is definitely growing.

The number of mature students applying to St George's Hospital Medical School has gone up significantly. There are now about 1600 applicants from graduates who have studied other areas - for example languages.

Medical students face five years of training

The school, which forms part of the University of London runs two courses each of 35 students.

Its programme has doubled in size in three years. Many of the successful applicants are in their 30s or 40s. They have to demonstrate a high degree of commitment to be accepted - but they do tend to stay in medicine.

The King's Fund report calls for a number of changes including flexible working, effective occupational health support and better career advice and planning.

Breakfast also spoke to Liz Hardy who's in the second year of medical school having given up her job as an accountant

Click here to see our interview with Liz Hardy

I originally did a languages degree then worked for 4 years as an accountant then I decided I wanted to do medicine.

I started doing science A Levels and applied for the course at ST George's. I had worked in a hospital for six months when I was younger.

It's got positive aspects and as a student I've got more time and I enjoy the work I'm doing