Specialities

A medical education can lead to a wide variety of specialisations which include:

Physicians

Medical specialities cover a wide range of role ranging from accident and emergency to clinical genetics. They cover most of the conditions fore which people are admitted to hospital. Many of the specialties focus on particular organs such as the heart (cardiology), or disease processes such as cancers (oncology). Below is a list of the main areas of speciality in medicine and broad definition of what these areas of speciality cover

Accident and Emergency

Accident and emergency is new, it is exciting and it is an expanding speciality. It is the only hospital-based speciality where a complete spectrum of illness and injury are managed. A & E doctors are generalists, in the broadest sense of the term, who specialise is resuscitation. A number also develop their own sub-speciality interest. Personal qualities should include:

· A dynamic approach and an interest in decision making
· Ability to ct as part of a team
· Ability to cope with a constantly varying workload.

Allergy

Allergy is a clinical speciality, which has scientific roots in the discipline of immunology. It shares with immunology many of the same laboratory techniques, but those who practise clinically in the speciality are unlikely to be called upon to direct service laboratory departments. They may, however, run research laboratories.

Audiological Medicine

All aspects of the investigation, diagnosis and management of hearing impaired ands balance disordered children and adults, as well as children with disorders of communication.

Cardiology

Encompasses the diagnosis, assessment and management of patients with cardiovascular disease. This popular speciality is high profile, exciting and demanding. Careful analytical skills are essential and decisive action can be life saving. Most consultants divide their time between inpatient and outpatient clinical duties including coronary care and investigation/interventional procedures. This is the cutting edge of medicine with the rapid translation of academic research to clinical practise.

Clinical Genetics

The diagnosis of disorders and birth defects caused by genetic mechanisms and with risk estimation and genetic counselling of family members. Clinical geneticists need a wide range of clinical skills since genetic disorders can effect people of all ages and all body systems. Communication skills are particularly important in transmitting complex concepts and test results to families to enable them to choose appropriate options.

Clinical Pharmacology

Clinical pharmacology is a sub speciality of General Medicine and physicians who specialise in it are experts in the effectiveness, safety and cost effectiveness of drug treatment.

Dermatology

Dermatology is a rapidly developing medical speciality, which requires knowledge of Skin Physiology and Pharmacology. There is increasing demand from the public and general practitioners for specialised dermatological care. Dermatology is also an essential part of General Practise and a high proportion of GP consultations are for skin disorders.

Endocrinology & Diabetes Mellitus

The speciality of Diabetes and Endocrinology is concerned with hormone under and overproduction. It is mainly an outpatient speciality.

Gastroenterology

General Internal medicine (GIM) encompasses the full breadth of adult medical practise with responsibility for both acute and emergencies and continuing care.

Genito-urinary Medicine (GUM)

The core work relates to sexually transmitted infections. A large part of the work in many areas is now involved in the clinical management of patients with HIV infection at all stages of disease, possibly including inpatient management. GUM is, in the main, a nine-to-five speciality that has the attractions of allowing specialists to lead a normal life out of medicine, in particular with adequate time not only to raise a family, but to enjoy it too!

Geriatric

Concerned with the clinical, preventive, remedial and social aspects of illness in older people. Clinical Geriatrics is rapidly evolving into both a hospital-based speciality and a speciality concerned with community care.

Infectious Diseases (Communicable Diseases)

Managing an emergency admission to a hospital of a patient suffering from severe infection and managing sever infections. It also requires a practical knowledge of common clinical diagnostic procedures.

Medical Oncology

A surgical/oncological sub-speciality, which is involved in solely delivering cytotoxic and biological agents in the management of solid diseases (cancer etc.) Medical Oncology is part of a large team of specialist oncologists within Cancer Centres.

Neurology

This remains a very attractive speciality and it is becoming increasingly outpatient based. Neurology is about the nervous system and with the recent advances in neuroscience the speciality is becoming increasingly involved with acute medical problems, in particular, stroke.

Neurophysiology

Clinical physiology is a branch of the neuroscience that is concerned with the investigation of neurological disease by techniques, which depend upon the electrical properties of neural tissue and muscle. The speciality is primarily involved with the diagnosis of nerve entrapments, neuromuscular disease, epilepsy and opthalmological disease.

Nuclear Medicine

Encompasses a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic clinical procedures using radioactive substances. Nuclear Medicine posts are daytime jobs in larger teaching hospitals and provide ample patient contact.

Occupational Health

Occupational Medicine specialises in the diagnosis, management and prevention of disease due to, or exacerbated by workplace factors. It is concerned with all aspects of the effects of work on health and health on work.

Paediatric Cardiology

Concerned with diseases of the hearts I the growing and developing individual. This speciality is well suited to those who enjoy the satisfaction of dealing directly with emergency problems in neonates and infants.

Palliative Medicine

The appropriate medical care of patients with advanced and progressive disease for whom the focus of care is the quality of life and in whom the prognosis is limited. Control of pain, or other symptoms and of psychological, social and spiritual problems is paramount. Palliative Medicine includes consideration of the family needs and after the patient's death.

Rehabilitation (including Spinal Injuries)

Rehabilitation Medicine is a speciality that deals with physical disabilities acquired from disease or trauma. Neurological disease forms a substantial part of the caseload. This speciality attracts people with enthusiasm who have a desire to devote a "hands-on" commitment to their careers with the potential for considerable scientific and academic development.

Renal Medicine (Nephrology)

Nephrology as a speciality involves the long-term care of patients with a broad range of renal and other disorders. Many types of renal diseases have a chronic and often progressive course.

Respiratory Medicine

Respiratory diseases are found at the hub of medical practise. Respiratory Medicine links to many other disciplines with great advances occurring in our understanding about how the lungs are affected by allergens, organisms, occupation, pollution and diet. Consultants are usually undertake General internal Medicine as well as with emergency on-call commitments.

Rheumatology

The speciality that deals with a group of conditions collectively called "rheumatic or musculo-skeletal disease". The term covers over 200 conditions affecting joints, bones, soft tissues and muscles.