Rumour, myth and reality at SR interviews

Abstract

With the current balance of manpower, being appointed to a senior registrar post is seen as more of a hurdle in the NHS career path of junior psychiatrists than the MCRPsych examination. Numerically, it is the most significant bottleneck in the system, with substantially more suitable applicants than available posts. One effect that this has had is to encourage a climate where rumours and myths circulate about what is necessary to become an SR. As well as being stressful and demoralising, this can give candidates the wrong ideas of what is realistically required.