never too old?

Must cost a fortune to train a doctor to GP standard. And takes ten years. Doesn't sound economic to me.

Yes it does take a long time to train as a doctor but soon everyone will be expected to work until they are 70 so even after beginning traing at forty that would still give 20 years working as a doctor and there is a great shortage of doctors so go for it.

I clanged to my dream job at 54, never regretted it. So I say go and chase your dream, never say ' I wish I had'

Sorry meant changed ( my lap top can't spell today)

It would be denying a place at medical school to a young person, which I think would be wrong, on balance, when medicine is very over-subscribed.

Seems like an excellent idea...a GP with life experience...got to be a good thing. I saw my 30 odd year old GP 15 years ago when feeling just 'off', weary, emotional and subject to feeling faint. She totally failed to see peri-menopause symptoms! (which is what I realised it was a bit later).

I think happy has a good point. GPs can already work until they are 70 so even if this lady qualified at 50 she would have 20 very useful years and she would be paying for her medical school fees anyway.

jane but isn't there a shortage of GPs?

Yes there is, GK, but not a shortage of young people wanting to enter Medical School.

I think I heard that 30% of GPs in UK were due to retire in the next 10 years, so there will be a shortage.
In the family pracitice we go to the founding member is 85, still does 3 sessions per week.

To the OP - if you have the time and the money to train at 48 definitely go for it. It's a long training.
When I was in my late 40s I decided I wanted to train as a lawyer, something I had wanted to do since my teens, but my Dad put me off.
I was already working fulltime, but first got O level, then A level, then registered for a 5 year external degree at Hull University. I got through 2 years of it, but sadly had to give up as I just couldn't find the time for all the reading and written work.
Without all my other commitments I could have done it.
I kept in touch with others on the degree course, and out of about 60 people who had started off, all mature students, only about 5 eventually got their degree.

This person is 48 and not 40 years old. That would make her at least 58 - even if she had good health she would only get 12 years work once qualified and as previously mentioned, that would be denying a younger person a university place. The training costs thousands also.

She may not wish to be a GP and competition for hospital appointments is fierce.

She should still go for it. She may only work for 12 years but a young doctor might emigrate not long after qualifying or give up work for some other reason. There is no way of knowing what anyone's future holds.

I dreamed of being an archaeologist but my dad told me that was a hobby job for rich people and I should get a proper job. I gave up on education not long after that and got an office job.

Something to think about when you vote for your older people's advocate?

What is?

I don't think anyone would object to training a young woman to be a GP even though she may then go on to work part time and take several periods of maternity leave. In fact we have (I hope) come a long way since the time when this kind of prejudice against women was commonplace. I think a woman of 48 whose children are older and who is ready to commit to a full time career could actually be a good financial investment. Add to that her life experience and I think she could be just the kind of GP the NHS needs.

I agree, nightowl.

This useful and encouraging link was posted in the mumsnet thread.

www.medschoolsonline.co.uk/graduates-and-mature-students/

Excellent link, FarNorth. If I were thinking of going to medschool in my forties that would definitely encourage me.

I changed career at the age of 50, and took up professional photography; and also ran choirs and music workshops, which I still do. The training was, of course, nothing like as lengthy or arduous as becoming a doctor, but I can truly say I never regretted my decision. I had 10 good years before ill health crept up on me a bit and I decided to retire.

One positive spin-off of making that decision and turning my life in a new direction has been that my DDs always say that it has given them the knowledge that they can follow their dreams and do not have to settle for being in a rut if they have an ambition they would like to pursue.

If you take a look at your life and work experience, you may find that you have transferrable skills that you could use in a new area of work or voluntary work. I found my experience as a teacher helpful in taking on temporary work as a Census Officer - recruiting, training and organising enumerators; and in leading a Weightwatchers group (no, I am not kidding!). A basic counselling course was invaluable in working with mature students and also in my voluntary work as a CAB adviser. And all of the above when I was a local councillor and school governor. Having said all that, it's a great relief that I don't have to go through all the business of writing a CV, making applications and attending interviews any more!

Never too old ....... fine for most situations but she would be at least 54 before qualifying as a 'junior doctor', then further years to be a GP, or a specialist of any sort.

Following a course of study for the intellectual stimulation is one thing, but expecting to launch a medical career at that age is, I'm afraid, pie in the sky.

I agree Riverwalk.

"You may also have to give up a well paid job and move to a new city, leave family and friends"

That is a quote from the link Jendurham posted. I presume it's a reference not only to the distant placements medical students undertake as undergraduates, but also to their Foundation training which lasts for two years after graduation, when they often have very little choice as to where they are placed.

Its not a medical doctorate but I got mine at the age of 56. I'd always thought 'I can't do a PhD' but one day I just thought 'why not?' and just got on with it. I did it while working full time and thoroughly enjoyed it. The others I met were all mature and I think we got a lot out of it. You're never too old to learn!