Hospital specialties

Besides general practice there are more than 70 medical specialties and sub-specialties, each with its own specific training programme requirements. In thinking about developing your career, this range of opportunities can seem rather daunting.

However, in general the medical specialties fall broadly into one of the following 9 categories: Anaesthesia; Medicine; Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Ophthalmology; Paediatrics; Pathology; Psychiatry; Radiology and Surgery. Clearly, within each major speciality area there may be a number of additional sub-specialties.

You can access information about all the major specialties and many of the associated sub-specialties at the following web sites:

The above specialty pages provide information on working life, personal characteristics, postgraduate training pathway, workforce statistics, remuneration, and additional links and reading.

The London Deanery site in particular offers the following information for 53 specialties: a brief description of the specialty; aspects which make it attractive as a career option;  challenges facing those considering entering the specialty; the future of the specialty; a trainee's view of the specialty; a sample person specification for each specialty .

Additional information about each speciality can be found on the individual Royal College web sites. Where there is a section of the web site devoted to careers you will find a specific Go Direct To link in the table below.