Leeds Interview

Question 1

Why do you want to be a doctor?

Answer 1

Problem solving-maths challenges chemistry challenges

What comes with that is constant learning- skills

Mum was doctor and I enjoyed listening to the variety of her job which matched what I observed at a GP, constant stimulation.

challenges with being a doctor

Question 2

How you you break bad news to a patient?

Answer 2

Explore understanding of situation

Provide an opportunity to involve others if they want

How much information would they like to know

Deliver news slowly and clearly

Give them time

Reiterate info if needed

Avoid interruption

Empathy

Next steps

Avoid making unrealistic reassurance

Question 3

Positives of medicine?

Answer 3

variety every day

Making a positive impact on someone

Watching them recover and building a trusting professional relationship with them is satisfying

Intellectually stimulating lots of challenges

Question 4

Negatives of medicine?

Answer 4

important to appreciate that it is difficult

Witness lots of deaths

Very stressful environments

Long hours

Trying your best but not seeing results

Finding a balance between medicine and external hobbies

Question 5

Article I’ve read recently?

Answer 5

nerve cooling implant relieves pain in rats

replacement for opioids possibly
Pain is important so could be dangerous removing the sensation

Question 6

Problems NHS faces right now?

Answer 6

stress on AnE

Ambulance waiting times

Lack of care workers

Ageing population

Question 7

Significant recent advancements in medicine?

Answer 7

Wearable medical devices

Could reduce the number of GP visits

Could help to determine whether someone should come into hospital without wasting GP time

Also the downsides of it being a breach of privacy

Question 8

Structure of NHS?

Answer 8

primary

Secondary

Tertiary care

NICE

Care quality commission

Question 9

What do Junior doctors do?

Answer 9

Could have up to 8 years of hospital experience

They enact plans of consultants, order x rays

Morning handover

Ward round

Question 10

What’s your biggest strength?.

Answer 10

work ethic

I know what I need to do to succeed

Once planned my entire Christmas break and did 5 hours a day

Promise myself I’ll do a bit of work everyday and have

Important to build a good habit as medicine is constantly evolving

Question 11

What’s your biggest weakness?

Answer 11

fear of public speaking

Poetry competition and I messed up my lines

So I helped with a peer mentor assembly

I need more practice but I feel more confident after preparing well for it

Not the most important skill for medicine but an important life skill nonetheless

Question 12

What are the most important character traits of a doctor?

Answer 12

Problem solving - diagnosing from symptoms and history

Teamwork/Leadership- delegation of tasks working with other medical professionals to come to the best decision for the patient

Communication- biggest part of the job, almost more important than diagnosing is being able to get the information you need and making the patient feel comfortable and trusting

Question 13

What are the potential issues regarding a patient adding you on Facebook?

Answer 13

breach of confidentiality

Could try to use you as a personal doctor so they don’t go and see a doctor

Blurring lines between professional and personal life as a doctor

Possibility of losing job and facing repercussions to breaking professionalism

Question 14

Why Medicine at Leeds?

Answer 14

Case based learning real world scenarios

Collaborative team based approach

Early clinical exposure is good for building my communication skills

Buddy system

Night life bigger city

Good research facility

Detection and treatment

Better outcomes

Coping with chronic conditions

Question 15

Why are long AnE waiting times bad?

Answer 15

Deterred from going to AnE

Ambulances waiting

Conditions could deteriorate while waiting

Stress on staff so cut corners

Question 16

Why not a nurse?

Answer 16

Although nurses are imperative to the NHS

Good relationship with patients, caring, making them comfortable

Their absence I’m the decision making process discourages me from that path

I thrive in more problem solving environments

Intellectually stimulated

Piecing information together for the diagnosis

Systematic approach starting with open questions and finishing with closed questions to narrow down possibilities

Question 17

Why is it important to get the covid vaccine?

Answer 17

less likely to get Ill

Less likely to pass it on

Easy to administer

Less likely to go to ICU

If enough people get the vaccine we will rid COVID

Question 18

What have you learnt from voluntary experience?

Answer 18

communication is vital using open questions and then closed questions to dial in on key information , avoiding jargon

Actively listening

Structured examination process

Constantly learning - EMSB course

Lots of teamwork involved with the multidisciplinary team, paramedics, physios

Question 19

Which part of society needs help the most?

Answer 19

argument for both sides

For young it is because they are the future and it would be silly not investing in the future.

They could bring fresh ideas

For the elderly it could be because we have an ageing population which is putting stress on the NHS so maybe this could help relieve some pressure
Concluding statement

Question 20

Any experiences of doubts to medicine?

Answer 20

recently in the application process, long course, very stressful and competitive is scary

What would my life be like without it

Question 21

NHS main priorities for the next 5 years?

Answer 21

ANE waiting times

Lack of beds

Appreciating medical professionals more

More advertising of what is and isn’t important enough to go to ANE for

Question 22

Why is Leeds unique?

Answer 22

Early placements, early clinical exposure, good location, good night life

Coupling up

Very diverse so lots of cultures and people to meet

Question 23

What strengths do you have which would make you a good doctor?

Answer 23

organisation-Prep for my GCSEs

Problem solving-Chess/Maths Challenges

Resilience-DofE

Question 24

Where have you shown good communication skills?

Answer 24

volunteering at a charity shop

Communicating with manager and difficult customers

Teaching peers chemistry content and staying patient

Question 25

Where have you shown teamwork skills?

Answer 25

waterpolo Spend lots of time training together building chemistry Putting tactics into play where everyone has a part chemistry practical challenge where I worked as a team to complete a practical quickly and efficiently

Question 26

An example of where you showed good time management skills?

Answer 26

sixth form Balancing social and physical and school life School duties Homework Hobbies Planning my evening or week was of benefit

Question 27

Where have you shown leadership?

Answer 27

DofE expedition Delegated tasks depending on skills Made sure we left at the right times and all had enough food Helped plan routes and backup routes with my team

Question 28

Where have you shown problem solving?

Answer 28

everyday life Balancing social physical and academic life Spoke to head of house and broke down all the tasks into manageable amounts and worked through it all Alongside school duties I learnt that I could always reach out for help and sometimes solving an issue on your own can only make things worse

Question 29

How do you deal with stress at work?

Answer 29

physical exercise Helps me take a break from the problem Planning my time and setting mini goals helps me be productive Talking to people about how I can deal with the stress Recently I spoke to head of house

Question 30

Why should we take you?

Answer 30

self driven academic Strong work ethic Resilient Good communication skills from volunteering Enjoy problem solving Excited to make a positive difference to the lives of many

Question 31

Where have you shown prioritisation?

Answer 31

Recently slowing down polo Focus on school work and my application Staying social at school but working hard at home

Question 32

Should doctors be able to strike?

Answer 32

For: They provide a service Don’t feel appreciated Long hours Against: Non maleficence Duty of care

Question 33

Who is the most important member of the MDT?

Answer 33

Not a most important member Everyone needs to work together Provides the best care when you have all the specialists Beneficence doing the best for all

Question 34

Should NHS install fines for missing appointments?

Answer 34

For People won’t spam appointments to get an appointment Doesn’t waste GP time Money can go back into NHS Increases efficiency of NHS Against Patients with memory issues will be penalised for their condition through no fault of their own Rich patients will take the hit by making lots of appointments People from lower socioeconomic backgrounds might deter them

Question 35

What do you understand by the phrase ‘informed consent’?

Answer 35

Having all the information Having capacity If you’re a child then the parents will make the decision for you Important to avoid malpractice and potential law suits Lasting power of attorney

Question 36

What is the next big medical enhancement across the horizon?

Answer 36

Personalised medicine Shorter appointments More effective treatments More efficient NHS Lower stress on health workers Less likely to strike Better treatment for patients

Question 37

What is the most important medical enhancement in the last 50 years?

Answer 37

Antibiotics Pros Can treat bacterial infections Easy to administer Specific Fast acting Cons Build up of resistance There are side effects Can damage the immune system

Question 38

Is the NHS fit for purpose?

Answer 38

Free healthcare Improving lives - long and waiting times so people’s conditions whilst waiting are deteriorating Everyone counts however still cases Where there is discrimination and neglect like the baby recently