The careers of men graduates from the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London

Summary The survey records the data supplied by the 290 respondents to a questionnaire sent out to the first 390 male graduates of the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine who qualified during the 20 year period after the school became co‐educational in 1948. As might have been expected, there was a preponderance of students from homes in Greater London and South East England. Whilst an equal entry of male and female students was felt desirable the achievement of this objective was slow, since selection was based on merit and the male applicants in the first few years seemed less well qualified for the medical training. During the period of the survey half of the entry was at the premedical stage and the average age for starting preclinical studies was 20.0 years—a little higher than that (18.9) recorded in the ASME survey for the 1966 entry to medical schools. A slightly higher number of Royal Free men took higher degrees and diplomas than did the women. On the number available it appeared that a higher percentage of Royal Free men took MRCP as compared with women or Birmingham graduates. The DA and DCH qualifications were more favoured by women than men. Three times as many men worked in, and twice as many lived in London as in South East England, a situation that was the reverse of that for Royal Free women. There was no evidence to show that the men preferred to do career training in London and then move out. A greater number of Royal Free men and women were doing hospital work rather than general practice, in contrast with Birmingham graduates, although it would seem likely from the expressed career preferences that a considerable number of the Royal Free men would eventually take up general practice. A much greater number of Royal Free men than Birmingham graduates were practising surgery. Medicine and obstetrics were more favoured by Royal Free men than women or Birmingham doctors. The Royal Free women favoured anaesthetics, paediatrics, pathology and physical medicine as specialities as compared with the men. Of the respondents 5.4% were practising psychiatry as compared with 5.1% of Royal Free women and 4.4% and 4.3% of Birmingham graduates and those in the ASME survey, respectively. The survey showed that the respondents considered themselves to require training until about 6 years after qualification, 43.7% thought this was best done in a hospital post. In the majority of cases a definite career decision was made by Royal Free men within 3–5 years after qualification. About equal numbers chose hospital work with continuing patient responsibility and general practice as first choice for their career, though the numbers of Royal Free men with the preference for general practice was not in agreement with the number actually doing this type of work. For the location of the work there was a marked aversion to large provincial communities, London, South and South West England being favoured. Of the respondents, 14.5% had taken permanent appointments abroad and 13% had made arrangements to do so. The view quoted by Kilgour (1971) that financial benefit was not the strongest motivation for emigration was confirmed in the survey.