A junior doctor in the UK is a qualified medical practitioner who has completed their medical degree but has not yet become a consultant or general practitioner (GP). They are doctors in training posts, gaining clinical experience and progressing through various stages of postgraduate training. The term traditionally covered doctors from those fresh out of medical school to those with up to around 9 years of experience before reaching consultant level
. Junior doctors undertake a range of responsibilities, including patient care, clinical decision-making, and sometimes leading teams in hospitals. They work under supervision but have increasing levels of autonomy as they advance in their training. Common titles within this group include Foundation Year 1 (FY1), Foundation Year 2 (FY2), Specialty Trainee (ST), Senior House Officer (SHO), and Specialty Registrar (SpR)
. Recently, the term "junior doctor" has been replaced officially by "resident doctor" in the UK to better reflect their expertise and responsibilities, as the previous term was seen as misleading and diminishing. Resident doctors make up about 25% of all doctors in the UK and have a wide range of skills and duties
. In summary, a junior doctor (now resident doctor) is a fully qualified doctor undergoing postgraduate training, providing essential medical care while developing specialist skills before becoming a senior doctor or consultant.
