Alumni Services

Medicine then and now

Inspired by the memories of a 90 year old medical graduate, we compared his experiences with those of two current students.

Dr A Morrison

In October, we asked alumni to send in snapshots of the cost of living in their student days. 90-year-old Dr Alastair Morrison’s written reminiscences of being a medical student from 1943 to 1948 fascinated us so much that we asked two fourth year medical students, Rui and Ryan, to draw comparisons with their own experiences.

Cost of living

Rui stayed in Pollock Halls in his first year and enjoyed meeting fellow students from all backgrounds. The student unions are still popular for cheap prices: coffee- £1.55, pint - from £2.30, plate of nachos - £3.50 (Teviot). However, many students like Ryan will save money by preparing a packed lunch.

 

In those days to qualify for a bursary you had to pass exams, there were no student grants or loans. I was fortunate to get a bursary of £50 per annum and a proportion of class fees paid by the Carnegie Trust. I was also fortunate to have 2 very good land ladies during my 5 years at Edinburgh - they provided an evening meal and lunch on Sundays for £2 per week, lunch on week days was taken at the University Union - pies, beans and chips costing 10 pence (old money) and 2p for a cup of coffee.

Dr Alastair Morrison

From Year 3 onwards, medical students move from lectures in the Old Medical School at Teviot Place to Little France. A monthly student bus pass costs £36, but with clinical placements around the country in later years, some find that a car is needed.

Textbooks are expensive and the must-have one is the ‘Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine’, although students can now access some books journals online.

It’s not all work, work, work

There was no time for leisure activities - it was war time - Saturday afternoon was spent on military training with the Senior Training Corps and occasional weekend manoeuvres; and fire watching over night at the University buildings. Much time was spent in the libraries - if one failed exam, one was called up for military service or as a “Bevin Boy” to go down the mines to dig coal as the miners had been called up.

Alastair Morrison

Time is at a premium for medical students today. There is plenty of studying to squeeze in around full days in lectures or on placements. However, most medics still find time for extracurricular activities. Ryan volunteers as a cub group leader, while Rui has made the most of the fantastic student societies, trying everything from African Drumming and Ballroom Dancing, to Wakeboarding out in Loch Lomond.

Both students value their bursaries for opening up opportunities to experience university life to the fullest while maintaining a work-life balance and developing wider skills.

Ready to face the profession

There was no time for leisure activities - it was war time - Saturday afternoon was spent on military training with the Senior Training Corps and occasional weekend manoeuvres; and fire watching over night at the University buildings. Much time was spent in the libraries - if one failed exam, one was called up for military service or as a “Bevin Boy” to go down the mines to dig coal as the miners had been called up.

Alastair Morrison

For now Rui and Ryan are concentrating on their studies but they can look forward to a much greater level of remuneration than Dr Alastair, who qualified on the day that the National Health Service was introduced to Britain, received.

For the most junior hospital trainee post (Foundation Year 1) the basic starting salary is £22,636. This increases in Foundation Year 2 to £28,076. For a doctor in specialist training the basic starting salary is £30,002.

History endures

Some things however remain constant, and the history and reputation of the Medical School continues to inspire with figures such as Joseph Lister proving as much as a motivation to Rui and Ryan now, as they did to Dr Alastair Morrison in the 1940s.