Useful Links
There is a wealth of information available online for doctors. We’ve trawled the web to find you some of the most useful resources for your career.
- RIG Locums Umbrella Preferred Supplier List
Royal Colleges and Faculties
There are 21 medical royal colleges or faculties, each responsible for a particular specialty within medicine – most are coordinated and promoted by the Academy of the Medical Royal Colleges. Each college or faculty has the role of setting standards in their fields, and supervising the post-graduate training of doctors within their specialty.
Each of the college’s websites has details of how you can become a member, in addition to the latest news and research in that area.
- College of Emergency Medicine
- Faculty of Dental Surgery
- Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine
- Faculty of Occupational Medicine
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine
- Faculty of Public Health
- Royal College of Anaesthetists
- Royal College of General Practitioners
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
- Royal College of Pathologists
- Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
- Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
- Royal College of Physicians of London
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Royal College of Radiologists
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
- Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Royal College of Surgeons of England
Specialist Organisations
In addition to Royal Colleges, there are also Specialist Organisations for all clinical sub-specialties. Their websites offer specialist news, resources, research and membership details.
Anaesthetics
- Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – http://www.aagbi.org/
Cardiovascular Medicine
- British Cardiac Society – http://www.bcs.com/pages/
- Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons- http://www.scts.org/
Dentistry & Oral Medicine
- British Society for Oral Medicine – http://www.bsom.org.uk/
- British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons – http://www.baoms.org.uk/
Dermatology
- British Association of Dermatologists – http://www.bad.org.uk/
Ear, Nose & Throat Medicine/Otorhinolaryngology
- British Association of Otorhinolaryngologists – https://www.entuk.org/
Gastroentotology
- British Society of Gastroenterology – http://www.bsg.org.uk/
Haemotology
- British Society for Haematology – http://www.b-s-h.org.uk/
Intensive Care
- Intensive Care Society – http://www.ics.ac.uk/
Neurology
- Association of British Neurologists – http://www.theabn.org/
- Society of British Neurological Surgeons- http://www.sbns.org.uk/
Ophthalmology
- General Optical Council – http://www.optical.org/
Radiology
- British Institute of Radiology – http://www.bir.org.uk/
Rheumatology
- British Society of Rheumatology – http://www.rheumatology.org.uk/
Respiratory
- British Thoracic Society- https://www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/
Surgery
- British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons – http://baaps.org.uk/
- British Association of Plastic Surgeons – http://www.bapras.org.uk/
- Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – http://www.asgbi.org.uk/
- British Association of Paediatric Surgeons- http://www.baps.org.uk/
- British Orthopaedic Association – http://www.boa.ac.uk/
Pathology
- Pathological Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – http://www.pathsoc.org/
- British Association of Urological Surgery – http://www.baus.org.uk/
Urology
- British Association of Urological Surgery – http://www.baus.org.uk/
Trauma & Orthopaedics
- British Orthopaedic Association – http://www.boa.ac.uk/
Industry bodies
British Medical Association – http://bma.org.uk/
The British Medical Association is a trade union representing member doctors in the UK.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) – https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) processes requests for criminal record checks, and places persons deemed inappropriate to be working with vulnerable groups, including children, on a barred list. The DBS issues a certificate to applicants.
General Medical Council(GMC) – http://www.gmc-uk.org/
The General Medical Council operates a register of licensed doctors in the UK. Without being listed on the register, doctors are unable to practise.
The GMC also regulates standards for medical schools in the UK; working with oversees medical bodies and regulators to decide where medical qualifications can be mutually recognised.
Furthermore, since December 2012, the GMC has also been responsible for the revalidation system, which was introduced to ensure doctors keep their medical knowledge up-to-date and remain fit to practise.
Care Quality Commission– http://www.cqc.org.uk/
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is and independent regulator of health and social care in England. It exists to monitor hospitals, GPS, dentists and home care services against national standards and publishes findings.
Department of Health, England– https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health
The Department of Health (DH) is a government department that sets government policy in respect of health and social care matters with the objective of improving quality of care in the UK. Some of its responsibilities are devolved to the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland – http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/
The Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPSNI) is a department of the Northern Ireland Executive and exists to improve the health and social well being of residents in Northern Ireland.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence– http://www.nice.org.uk/
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is a non-departmental public body responsible for developing guidance and quality standards in health and social care.
Publications
British Medical Journal (BMJ) – http://www.bmj.com
The BMJ is an international peer reviewed medical journal. Its articles are published on the web as well as in a regular print journal.