Geriatric medicine
Geriatricians provide comprehensive medical care to older people.
Geriatric medicine is the largest medical specialty, and your role will be a wide and varied one.
Life as a geriatrician
You’ll diagnose and treat acute illnesses, chronic diseases, disability and frailty. Your patients will often have several medical conditions and be taking a number of different medicines.
Common conditions you’ll treat include:
- fractures
- delirium
- dementia
- incontinence
- poor mobility
- frailty
As part of a multidisciplinary team, you’ll work closely with medical colleagues including GPs and other hospital doctors as well as experts in the community such as social workers. Your ability to collaborate and work well with others will be vital.
Given the varied nature of your role, you’ll work in a multitude of settings including:
- outpatient departments
- A&E
- medical assessment units
- acute care wards (e.g. coronary care, high dependence, intensive care and acute stroke care)
- rehabilitation wards
- intermediate and long-term care wards
- day-care centres
- care homes
- hospices
The role demands a strong sense of compassion and the ability to adopt a holistic, patient-centric approach. You’ll provide rehabilitation after illness and need a comprehensive knowledge of physical treatments, adaptations and aids.
Older people may react differently to drugs so you’ll need an excellent understanding of adverse drug reactions, drug interventions and how these might be affected by a patient’s condition.
An important part of your job will be to enable patients to be supported at home or transferred from hospital to home, which is often a complex process.
During your training it’s important you develop an excellent understanding of palliative and end of life care. You’ll also need to excel in orthogeriatrics (medical care for people with orthopaedic trauma), old age psychiatry and specialist stroke care.
Due to the unique nature of your work, you’ll need to understand the legal and ethical issues surrounding work with older people, including appointment of power of attorney, guardianship, mental health legislation and resuscitation.
How much can I earn?
You’ll first earn a salary when you start your foundation training after medical school. Find out details of current salary ranges for foundation and specialty training, SAS doctors and consultants on the Pay for doctors page.
How about the benefits?
- make a difference
- flexible and part-time working
- high income early in your career
- work anywhere in the world
- excellent pension scheme
- good holiday entitlement
- NHS discounts in shops and restaurants
Must-have skills
- excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, and patients and their families
- emotional resilience, a calm temperament and the ability to work well under pressure
- teamwork and the capacity to lead multidisciplinary teams
- problem-solving and diagnostic skills
- outstanding organisational ability and effective decision-making skills
- first-class time and resource management for the benefit of patients
Entry requirements
Your first step is medical school. Typically, you’ll need excellent GCSEs and three A or A* passes at A level including chemistry for a five-year undergraduate degree in medicine. Many medical schools also ask for biology and others may require maths or physics.
If you already have a degree, you could study for a four-year postgraduate degree in medicine.
You’ll need to pass an interview and admissions test. You’ll be asked to show how you demonstrate the NHS values such as compassion and respect.
Some medical schools look to recruit a mix of students from different backgrounds and geographical areas, so your educational and economic background and family circumstances could be considered as part of your application.
I got a taste of what working in geriatric medicine was like as part of my medicine training and I really enjoyed it. I was also drawn to the intellectual challenge of dealing with multiple problems in a single patient so I decided to specialise in this branch of medicine.
Read Adam's story.
What are my chances of starting a career as a geriatrician?
There are approximately 1,514 geriatricians working in the NHS in England. In 2020, there were 392 applications for 202 specialty training places.
How to become a geriatrician
After medical school, you’ll join the paid two-year foundation programme where you’ll work in six placements in different settings.
After your foundation programme, you can apply for paid specialty training to become a geriatrician, which will take a minimum of six or seven years.
You may be able to train part time, for example for health reasons or if you have family or caring responsibilities.
Where a career as a geriatrician can take you
Once you’re a qualified geriatrician, you’ll have the chance to undertake an additional one-year training scheme in stroke medicine to achieve what’s known as sub-specialty recognition.
Consultants are involved in managing geriatric services and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to undertake research and teach.
You’ll also have many opportunities to develop special interests within geriatrics. These can be based around a particular stage in a person’s illness (temporal illnesses) or based around specific disease processes. Most geriatricians enjoy looking after a wide range of conditions.
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Specialty Doctor in Geriatrics and Stroke medicine
York, YO318HE
- Salary :
- £65048.00 to £73992.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Consultant Geriatrician
Portsmouth, PO6 3LY
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
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Consultant Geriatrician
Birmingham, B15 2TH
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
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Consultant Geriatrician
Oldham, OL1 2JH
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
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Locum Consultant Geriatrician
Dartford, DA2 8DA
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
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Consultant Ortho-Geriatrician
Birmingham, B9 5SS
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
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Consultant Geriatrician QEH
London, SE18 4QH
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
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Consultant in Geriatrics
Sutton-In-Ashfield, NG17 4JL
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Ortho-Geriatric Registrar
Basingstoke, RG24 9NA
- Salary :
- £65048.00 to £73992.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Consultant Geriatrician- Cardiac Liaison
London, W12 0HS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
-
Consultant Geriatrician - Surgical Liaison
Dudley, DY1 2HQ
- Salary :
- £19725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
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Consultant - Eldercare / Geriatric Medicine
Truro, TR1 3LQ
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
-
Consultant in Geriatric Medicine
Swindon, SN3 6BB
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Acute Consultant Geriatrician (Frailty Hub)
Dudley, DY1 2HQ
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
-
Locum Consultant Ortho-Geriatric Physician
Orpington, BR6 8ND
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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Consultant in Geriatric Medicine (x4)
Chichester, PO19 6SE
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
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Consultant Physician in Geriatric Medicine
Carlisle, CA2 7HY
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
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TPD Geriatric Medicine (East Midlands)
Leicester, LE3 8RA
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Secondment
- Employer :
- NHS England
-
Locum Consultant in Geriatric Medicine (POPS)
Hastings, TN37 7RD
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
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Trust NHS Locum Ortho-geriatric Consultant
Hastings, TN37 7RD
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
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Consultant Geriatrician - Acute Frailty *Welcome Bonus 12K*
Ipswich, IP4 5PD
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Geriatrician with an interest in Orthogeriatrics
London, E11 1NR
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Barts Health NHS Trust
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Consultant with an interest in Geriatric Medicine
Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 4LF
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust
-
Consultant Geriatrician - Specialist Interest in Re-ablement Medicine
Liverpool, L14 3LB
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Consultant in Geriatric & General Medicine *Welcome Bonus 12K*
Ipswich, IP4 5PD
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Elderly Care Consultant with Special Interest in Acute Geriatrics
Dorchester, DT1 2JY
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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Dermatology Doctor
Swindon, SN3 3RB
- Salary :
- £550.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
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Dermatology Doctor
Wandsworth, SW18 4WW
- Salary :
- £550.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
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ENT Doctor
Worthing, BN11 3BN
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
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ENT Doctor
Canterbury, CT1 1BN
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Dermatology Doctor
Slough, SL1 2EJ
- Salary :
- £550.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Dermatology Doctor
Leicester, LE1 2BU
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Speciality Doctor
Lichfield, WS14 9LH
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- St Giles Hospice
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Specialty Doctor
London, SE5 8UH
- Salary :
- £59175.00 to £95400.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
-
Dermatology Doctor
Canterbury, CT1 1BN
- Salary :
- £550.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Speciality Doctor
Workington, CA14 2AL
- Salary :
- £105000.00 to £115000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Humankind Charity
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Specialty Doctor
Castleford , WF10 3JJ
- Salary :
- £70901.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
-
Dermatology Doctor
Worthing, BN11 3BN
- Salary :
- £550.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Specialty Doctor
Brunel Road, , RG7 4AB
- Salary :
- £59175.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Sue Ryder
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Specialty Doctor - CAMHS
Stafford, ST19 9QT
- Salary :
- £90000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Active Care Group
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Specialty Doctor - Paediatrics
Chesterfield, S44 5BL
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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Respiratory Speciality Doctor
Ashton-under-Lyne, OL69RW
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
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Specialty Doctor - Orthodontics
Southend, SS0 0RY
- Salary :
- £61542.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor - Cardiology
Scarborough, YO12 6QL
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Specialty Doctor - Anaesthetics
Harrogate, HG2 7SX
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust
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Medical Research Doctor
Cambridge, CB24 3BA
- Salary :
- £45000.00 to £60000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Optimum Patient Care
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ST1 Paediatric Bank Doctor
Warrington, WA5 1QG
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT
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Senior Locally Employed Doctor
Manchester, M8 5RB
- Salary :
- £65048.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
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Trust Doctor - Cardiology ST3+
Barnstaple, EX31 4JB
- Salary :
- £65048.00 to £65048.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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Trauma & Orthopaedic Specialty Doctor
York, YO31 8HE
- Salary :
- £59175.00 to £95400.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Specialty Doctor - Emergency Medicine
Bournemouth, BH7 7DW
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
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Specialty Doctor in Ophthalmology
Huddersfield, HD3 3EA
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
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Bank On Call Doctor
North East, DL1 2LN
- Salary :
- £325.00 to £450.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- Cygnet Health Care
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Specialist Doctor in Dermatology
Peterborough, PE3 9GZ
- Salary :
- £100870.00 to £111441.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
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Trust Doctor - Occupational Health
Exeter, EX2 5DW
- Salary :
- £44436.00 to £65048.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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GP & Health Assessment Doctor
Riccarton, EH12 9GF
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Nuffield Health
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Registrar Doctor in Haematology
Chlesea, SW3 6JJ
- Salary :
- £61825.00 to £70425.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialist Doctor in Dermatology
Truro, TR1 3LJ
- Salary :
- £96990.00 to £107155.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
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Specialty Doctor in Psychotherapy
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 4QD
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
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Speciality Doctor Community Paediatrics
Litchfield, WS13 6EE
- Salary :
- £52530.00 to £82400.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
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These organisations have further information about being a geriatric medicine doctor, particularly as your career progresses. Take a look.
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
The British Geriatrics Society
Association for Elderly Medicine Education
British and Irish Association of Stroke Physicians
And hear from people working in geriatric medicine:
A career in geriatricians (UKFPO)
Dr Sally Jones, consultant geriatrician (RCP)
Dr Jenny Lonnen, an ST5 trainee in geriatric medicine (RCPE)
Dr Michael Alcorn, an ST5 trainee in geriatric medicine and GIM (RCPE)