Hot topics frequently arise in medical school interviews, and while this may feel overwhelming, a little preparation can go a long way. In this article, we’ll explore some of the common and current hot topics, what you need to understand about them, and how to effectively tackle these types of questions. The end of the article signposts you to further topics to read about. At Future Doc, we provide a personalized 1-on-1 coaching program that includes regular guidance on hot topics and interview preparation. For more details on how to join, click here.

Junior Doctors Strikes

The Junior Doctors strike is arguably one of the hottest topics impacting Doctors currently. These began in 2023 and were driven by disputes over pay and working conditions, following years of pay erosion due to inflation. Junior doctors argued that their real-term wages had significantly decreased over the last decade, leading to financial difficulty, low morale and burnout. The British Medical Association demanded a 35% pay increase to account for inflation and rising costs of living. The strikes involved several rounds of walkouts throughout 2023-202, impacting non-emergency  NHS services. Although the strikes were controversial, it highlighted significant public support, and many sympathised with the Junior Doctors, recognising the challenges that they face – both in terms of the nature of their jobs and the financial pressures.

After 18 months of strike actions, junior doctors agreed to a pay deal of a 22% pay increase over 2 years.  In medical school interviews, it’s important to be aware of the ethical arguments for and against doctors striking. We have listed some below:

Ethical arguments against strikes:

1. Doctors should follow the ethical principle of non-maleficence (do no harm). This is not followed when understaffing results from strike action.
2. Strike action impacts the public perception of doctors
3. The principle of beneficence or doing good is not upheld by striking, as this delays patient treatment
4. Strike action costs the NHS money, this could be used towards patients

Ethical arguments for strikes:

1. Doctors are human beings, and although their job is vocational, it does not justify poorer working conditions and pay
2. Fair pay improves the quality of lives of doctors, which ultimately makes them better clinicians
3. Evidence suggests that strikes do not impact mortality of patients
4. UK doctors are leaving the NHS to work for better conditions, either abroad or in the private sector. If we continue to lose doctors at this rate, it could be detrimental to patient care and could mean understaffing will be significantly worse in the long run.

Lucy Letby case

The Lucy Letby case is one of the most recent hot topics that may come up in your interviews. This case is regarded as one of the most notorious in modern UK criminal history. It involved a neonatal nurse who was convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder six others whilst working in a Cheshire hospital. Lucy was convicted of injecting air, insulin or milk into babies, often leading to sudden collapses or death.

These actions raised suspicions among doctors, who noticed an unusual pattern in these infants. Despite initial concerns being dismissed, an internal investigation linked Letby to the incidents, and she was arrested in 2018. Her trial began in 2022, which revealed shocking details of her behaviour. The evidence included handwritten notes in which she expressed her guilt and confessed to these heinous crimes. She was sentenced to life in prison in August 2023; this sparked widespread outrage and calls for reforms in how hospitals handle internal concerns and whistleblowing.

The Lucy Letby case is linked to several key topics often discussed in medical school interviews, such as ethics, patient safety, professionalism, and the importance of speaking up. In this case, warning signs were overlooked, and concerns from colleagues were dismissed. You might be asked how you would respond in a similar situation if you noticed something was wrong. The case also highlights the critical role of whistleblowing. Medical schools will be interested in how you would handle situations where you suspect harm, and the Letby case serves as a clear example of the tragic consequences of not addressing concerns. In an interview, it's important to reflect on the challenges of raising such concerns, the need to safeguard patients, and how you would navigate ethical dilemmas like this. To read more about the Lucy Letby case, see here.

Dr Bawa Garba case

The Dr Bawa Garba case involved a UK paediatrician who was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter following the death of a 6-year-old boy, Jack Adcock in 2011. Jack, who had Down’s syndrome and a heart condition, died from sepsis after a series of errors, including miscommunication, delayed treatments and system failures at Leicester Royal Infirmary. Dr Bawa-Garba was found to make some mistakes during her busy shift, including missing signs and symptoms of sepsis; however, this case really highlights concerns about systemic pressures, including staff shortages and IT failures which resulted in this tragic outcome. Initially, Dr Bawa-Garba was struck off the medical register, leading to widespread outcry among clinicians who argued that she was scapegoated for broader systemic issues. In 2018, she was reinstated to the medical register.

In medical school interviews, this case can be used to discuss clinical responsibility, patient safety and the impact of systemic failures on individual performance of clinicians. Interviewers may ask you regarding how you would manage errors and prioritise patient safety. The case also brings up questions about blame culture, where you will be expected to discuss reflection, learning from mistakes and raising concerns about systemic issues.

Charlie Gard case

This case involved an 11-month-old boy with a rare genetic condition which caused him severe brain damage and muscle weakness. In 2017, Charlie’s parents sought to take him to the US for an experimental therapy, but doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital argued that this was unlikely to help and would only prolong his suffering. The case went to court, with the hospital advocating to withdraw life support, while Charlie’s parents fought for their right to continue treatment. The court ultimately sided with the hospital, and Charlie’s life support was withdrawn in July 2017.

The case is an important one to consider and be aware of for your medical school interviews. It highlights the ethical dilemmas surrounding end of life care, patient autonomy and the role of clinicians in determining what is in the best interest of patients when treatment is limited. Interviewers may ask you how you would handle disagreements between medical professionals and families, especially when it comes to complex situations like this. Read more about the case of Charlie Gard here.

UK doctor apprenticeships

The new UK doctor apprenticeship programme was introduced in 2023, offering an alternative route to becoming a doctor without the traditional higher education that is required. This apprenticeship allows students to train as doctors whilst working in the NHS, which allows them to implement practical skills and train on the job along side academic study. The programme was designed to increase accessibility to medical careers, allowing students to earn while they learn – this significantly reduces financial barriers associated with medical school tuition fees. Apprentices are still expected to meet the rigorous standards of traditional medical graduates.

It is important to be aware of this topic for your medical school interviews, as it highlights the evolving pathways into medicine, addressing issues such as widening participations and reducing inequalities that are often associated with medical education. You may be asked on your view of alternative training of doctors, how this could impact the NHS workforce and whether you believe these programmes will continue the same level of clinical excellence expected from medical graduates. Check out our in depth article at Future Doc to read more about these apprenticeships.

Issues facing the NHS

Understanding the issues that the NHS currently faces is key to discussing hot topics at your interviews. This section will give you key points that you should be aware of as part of your interview preparation.

Ambulances

Ambulance service performance is evaluated based on their response time, starting from the moment an emergency call is made. Once the call is placed, it is categorised into one of four groups, each with its own target response time.

Category 1 – This requires an immediate response to a life-threatening condition, such as cardiac or respiratory arrest. The average response time should be under 7 minutes, and 90% should arrive within 15 minutes of the call.

Category 2 – A his involves serious conditions, such as chest pain, requiring prompt assessment and transportation. The target response time is under 18 minutes, with 90% of ambulances arriving within 40 minutes.

Category 3 – This is for urgent problems, such as an uncomplicated asthma attack, that require transport to the hospital. The goal is for 90% of ambulances to arrive within 2 hours.

Category 4 – a non-urgent problem such as stable, which requires transportation to the appropriate clinical setting. 90% of ambulances should arrive within 3 hours.

As of April/May 2022, the average response time for Category 1 calls was 8 minutes and 36 seconds—1 minute and 36 seconds longer than the target. Category 2 calls averaged 40 minutes, 22 minutes above the goal. Similarly, Category 3 calls saw an average wait of 2 hours and 9 minutes. These delays significantly impact patient safety, particularly for Category 1 cases, where even small delays can have life-altering consequences. This information comes from the House of Commons Library; more details on the impact of ambulance waiting times can be found  here .  You can read more on the impact of ambulance waiting times here.

Several factors contribute to these delays, including unprecedented post-COVID demand, a shortage of paramedics, and increased A&E waiting times. Overcrowded A&E departments further slow ambulance crews, as there is often no space to transfer patients from the ambulance into the hospital.

Ambulance wait times are just one of the many issues that the NHS faces. Some other issues that you are encouraged to read up on include staff shortages, A&E and cancer waiting times.

Summary and further reading

The topics discussed in this article are just some of the many topics that may come up in your medical school interviews. Below, we have listed some more potential topics that you should read up on and know a little bit about. Remember, you won’t be quizzed on exact details, but you should know enough to have an intelligent discussion on the matter, to hold a reasonable opinion, and to able to argue for and against it.

1. COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines
2. The structure of the NHS
3. BAME communities in the NHS
4. NHS staffing shortages and the impact on patient care
5. Telemedicine and the future of healthcare
6. Mental health awareness and its integration into primary care
7. AI in healthcare and its ethical implications
8. Antimicrobial resistance
9. Impact of BREXIT on healthcare
10. Organ donation and opt-out systems
11. Long COVID and its ongoing health implications
12. The role of physician associates in the NHS
13. Euthanasia and assisted dying
14. Vaccination
15. Medical licensing assessment that started in 2024
16. Confidentiality
17. The Alfie Evans case
18. The Shropshire Maternity scandal
19. Abortion
20. Challenges for General Practice and primary care

Written by Dr Mahsa Kabuli