Across RWT, we employ around 1400 staff in medical roles. They form part of the heart of our Trust and deliver outstanding care and leadership.
Below are the some of the different grades of doctors we have at our Trust.
Our professions
Medical and dental
| Grade/Title | Typical Role & Responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Medical Student | Not yet qualified doctors; study medicine at university and undertake clinical placements under supervision. |
| Foundation Year 1 (FY1) | Newly qualified doctors in their first year post-medical school. Work under close supervision, perform basic ward duties, take patient histories, and assist with procedures. |
| Foundation Year 2 (FY2) | Second year of foundation training. Take on more responsibility, including managing patients with less supervision and performing more complex procedures. May be referred to as Senior House Officers (SHOs). |
| Core Trainee (CT1/CT2) | Doctors in early specialty training (core medical or surgical training). Rotate through different specialties to gain broad experience before choosing a specialty. |
| Specialty Trainee (ST1–ST8) | Doctors in a chosen specialty training programme. The number indicates years into specialty training (e.g., ST3 is third year). Increasing responsibility, including leading ward rounds, managing cases, and supervising juniors. |
| Registrar (SpR) | Specialty Registrar, typically ST3 and above. Senior trainees who take significant responsibility for patient care and may supervise more junior doctors. |
| Resident Doctor | General term for doctors in training (FY1-ST8). They perform ward duties, on-call shifts, and rotate between departments. |
| Specialty Doctor / Specialist Doctor / SAS Doctor | Experienced doctors who have completed at least four years of post-graduate training (two in their specialty). Provide expert clinical care, often without the administrative or training duties of consultants. May supervise junior doctors and manage cases independently. |
| Associate Specialist | Senior SAS grade, now closed to new entrants. Highly experienced, permanent middle-grade doctors who do not wish to become consultants. |
| Consultant | Senior doctors who have completed all specialty training and are on the specialist register. Lead clinical teams, make final decisions on patient care, supervise all junior staff, and are responsible for service delivery in their specialty. |
| General Practitioner (GP) | Primary care doctors who diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions in the community, refer to specialists when needed, and manage ongoing patient care |
A warm welcome to The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust from the chief medical officer
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