123doc are a website that provides relatively good revision material for MRCP Part 1 and other exams. In my ‘exam panic phase’* I purchased a membership.

Just recently I got this e mail from them:

Dear Junior Doctor,

You have been invited to attend a half-day Specialty Training Interview
Course being held on Sunday, 18th February 2007 at the Royal College of
General Practitioners.

This course, presented by Dr. Malvena Stuart-Taylor, Associate Dean,
Severn and Wessex Deanery, is specifically aimed at developing your
interview skills and building your portfolio in preparation for the
Specialty Training Selection Panel. Practical demonstrations and Q&A sessions
are an integral component of the interactive course.

The course fee is £129.00. LIMITED SPACES ONLY.

Well I’m not a trainee in Sussex and West, but I would expect my associate dean to be giving me appropriate advice for free. It’s their job! What the hell is she doing by selling off her, probably insider, knowledge for £129 a shot.

There are two options here either:

1. This is common sense available from any book or assertive training course. I have no idea if £129 is a fair price for this. If this is the case why is a clinician the best person to teach this. Surely someone who is an expert in body language and stuff would be better qualified.
2. She is going to offer knowledge that perhaps people who weren’t Associate Dean for Severn and West Deanery aren’t going to have. If she has this knowledge shouldn’t she be sharing it with Junior doctors in Severn and West Deanery for free? Or is it knowledge that is going to give the people who have it an unfair advantage? In which case why should you be able to buy it for £129

During my next exam panic I won’t be giving any more money to 123doc.

Now a 2 month membership on 123doc.com for MRCP Part 1 costs £69.99. £20 can get you an entire year of Declan O’Kanes Medexam softwear which is
a) £20 for 1200 questions for a year, compared to £99 for 2009 questions for 4 months.
b) Has been written in his spare time, to help juniors, rather than profit from them. Ok I’m sure he’s hoping to make some money on it – but this is the result of one hell of a lot of work.

You could also join pastest or onexamination, both of which are very good.

*Yes, that phase where you are so scared of failing that you will part with any amount of money for pointless books and courses. I have a nice collection of once-used-rather-useless books on medicine.