How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Would like some advice from FM seniors.
Can I ask how useful is it to stay in ops leading up to the mmed clinical exams.
I am exiting in July. just received akt results yesterday which I passed (i.e will be taking clinicals in October/ November)

Ops has arranged for a preparatory course for all residents which involved weekly clinicals (like mock consult case practice, lectures etc) from August onwards. The preparatory course is open to all residents, even if one chooses not to stay in ops. (It is conducted after hours weekly)

I was wondering if it is a better to join the prep course and go locum instead of working full-time with ops. That way you can set aside time to study (mmed after all is a very knowledge intensive exam). I will still get the relevant exam prep teaching (through the weekly clinicals), but of course lose out on the ops caseload experience. (I am not sure how critical is that as after all not all chronic cases in ops is managed in mmed style due to time constraints and other factors.. and real pts also don't always behave like the way sp behave in exams..)

I have seen seniors done that, some passed some failed. But those who stayed in ops also some passed and some failed.
So not sure if I should do that.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Would like some advice from FM seniors.
Can I ask how useful is it to stay in ops leading up to the mmed clinical exams.
I am exiting in July. just received akt results yesterday which I passed (i.e will be taking clinicals in October/ November)

Ops has arranged for a preparatory course for all residents which involved weekly clinicals (like mock consult case practice, lectures etc) from August onwards. The preparatory course is open to all residents, even if one chooses not to stay in ops. (It is conducted after hours weekly)

I was wondering if it is a better to join the prep course and go locum instead of working full-time with ops. That way you can set aside time to study (mmed after all is a very knowledge intensive exam). I will still get the relevant exam prep teaching (through the weekly clinicals), but of course lose out on the ops caseload experience. (I am not sure how critical is that as after all not all chronic cases in ops is managed in mmed style due to time constraints and other factors.. and real pts also don't always behave like the way sp behave in exams..)

I have seen seniors done that, some passed some failed. But those who stayed in ops also some passed and some failed.
So not sure if I should do that.

It’s only a few more months to go, might as well stay on

How much extra money can you make as a locum in that few months

Totally not worth it

If you are money motivated you shouldn’t even enter FM residency in the first place

Should have called it quits and break bond after your full reg

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Would like some advice from FM seniors.
Can I ask how useful is it to stay in ops leading up to the mmed clinical exams.
I am exiting in July. just received akt results yesterday which I passed (i.e will be taking clinicals in October/ November)

Ops has arranged for a preparatory course for all residents which involved weekly clinicals (like mock consult case practice, lectures etc) from August onwards. The preparatory course is open to all residents, even if one chooses not to stay in ops. (It is conducted after hours weekly)

I was wondering if it is a better to join the prep course and go locum instead of working full-time with ops. That way you can set aside time to study (mmed after all is a very knowledge intensive exam). I will still get the relevant exam prep teaching (through the weekly clinicals), but of course lose out on the ops caseload experience. (I am not sure how critical is that as after all not all chronic cases in ops is managed in mmed style due to time constraints and other factors.. and real pts also don't always behave like the way sp behave in exams..)

I have seen seniors done that, some passed some failed. But those who stayed in ops also some passed and some failed.
So not sure if I should do that.

It’s only a few more months to go, might as well stay on

How much extra money can you make as a locum in that few months

Totally not worth it

If you are money motivated you shouldn’t even enter FM residency in the first place

Should have called it quits and break bond after your full reg

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Would like some advice from FM seniors.
Can I ask how useful is it to stay in ops leading up to the mmed clinical exams.
I am exiting in July. just received akt results yesterday which I passed (i.e will be taking clinicals in October/ November)

Ops has arranged for a preparatory course for all residents which involved weekly clinicals (like mock consult case practice, lectures etc) from August onwards. The preparatory course is open to all residents, even if one chooses not to stay in ops. (It is conducted after hours weekly)

I was wondering if it is a better to join the prep course and go locum instead of working full-time with ops. That way you can set aside time to study (mmed after all is a very knowledge intensive exam). I will still get the relevant exam prep teaching (through the weekly clinicals), but of course lose out on the ops caseload experience. (I am not sure how critical is that as after all not all chronic cases in ops is managed in mmed style due to time constraints and other factors.. and real pts also don't always behave like the way sp behave in exams..)

I have seen seniors done that, some passed some failed. But those who stayed in ops also some passed and some failed.
So not sure if I should do that.

It’s only a few more months to go, might as well stay on

How much extra money can you make as a locum in that few months

Totally not worth it

If you are money motivated you shouldn’t even enter FM residency in the first place

Should have called it quits and break bond after your full reg

You already incurred a lot of opportunity cost by choosing to train in FM residency

In that 3 years of time your peers who left for GP land/aesthetics have been earning a higher income and now they are probably anchoring GP clinics/being more proficient in their aesthetics

Honestly the whole point of getting MMED is to stay on in OPS and aim for leadership roles eventually

Better don’t

Do you want more chance to pass or fail

Only a few months better stay on and pass the exam

You can locum all you want after you passed

Thinking of quitting and just coming back to SG!!


Currently a CT1 core surgical trainee in North East England…

The cost of living is just too high relative to the low salary

Earning only £2,500/month after income tax and NI deductions…

City is not safe..

I have to spend £1,200/month on a studio rent,,

taxi expenses to and fro hospital cost another £900/month

Food another £600/month I don’t cook only eat subway every day … even then a subway meal cost £10. I skip breakfast. Still have to spend £20 a day

Clearly my expenses are higher than my costs…

Currently have to borrow money from my brother who is a practising lawyer in SG, just to meet my ends meet

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thinking of quitting and just coming back to SG!!


Currently a CT1 core surgical trainee in North East England…

The cost of living is just too high relative to the low salary

Earning only £2,500/month after income tax and NI deductions…

City is not safe..

I have to spend £1,200/month on a studio rent,,

taxi expenses to and fro hospital cost another £900/month

Food another £600/month I don’t cook only eat subway every day … even then a subway meal cost £10. I skip breakfast. Still have to spend £20 a day

Clearly my expenses are higher than my costs…

Currently have to borrow money from my brother who is a practising lawyer in SG, just to meet my ends meet

Are you ready to be a mopex for 3-5 years then become a gp?
If yes, come back stat.
If you still want to pursue ur surgical dream, complete ur training there, then come back.
Negative cash flow is fine. You r chasing the big money when u become con.
Just treat it as apprenticeship in uk
Low hopes of you getting into GS residency in sg.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thinking of quitting and just coming back to SG!!


Currently a CT1 core surgical trainee in North East England…

The cost of living is just too high relative to the low salary

Earning only £2,500/month after income tax and NI deductions…

City is not safe..

I have to spend £1,200/month on a studio rent,,

taxi expenses to and fro hospital cost another £900/month

Food another £600/month I don’t cook only eat subway every day … even then a subway meal cost £10. I skip breakfast. Still have to spend £20 a day

Clearly my expenses are higher than my costs…

Currently have to borrow money from my brother who is a practising lawyer in SG, just to meet my ends meet

Lol go and plan your financials in excel. Go get a financial planner they can help you plan which is the better path. Whether to stay there or come back now. Good luck.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

It’s only a few more months to go, might as well stay on

How much extra money can you make as a locum in that few months

Totally not worth it

If you are money motivated you shouldn’t even enter FM residency in the first place

Should have called it quits and break bond after your full reg

You already incurred a lot of opportunity cost by choosing to train in FM residency

In that 3 years of time your peers who left for GP land/aesthetics have been earning a higher income and now they are probably anchoring GP clinics/being more proficient in their aesthetics

Honestly the whole point of getting MMED is to stay on in OPS and aim for leadership roles eventually

Ya I know of the opportunity cost. Been thinking of it for past year since my bond ended, thought many times of quitting residency but eventually decided to complete it nonetheless (as close to finishing already). Now Kind of thinking of cutting loss and gtfo in july. Ironically if I failed akt, probably won't have this dilemma as clear cut decision to leave. Now like more conflicted lol

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Ya I know of the opportunity cost. Been thinking of it for past year since my bond ended, thought many times of quitting residency but eventually decided to complete it nonetheless (as close to finishing already). Now Kind of thinking of cutting loss and gtfo in july. Ironically if I failed akt, probably won't have this dilemma as clear cut decision to leave. Now like more conflicted lol

Come on. You already survived through the pain of the last year, what’s a few extra months? Just stay on and pass your exams in October. You can leave easily after that