In Britain's health service a consultant is the senior career post for a fully accredited specialist. He or she normally sees patients referred by general practitioners – hence the historical term ‘consultant’ – or emergency cases admitted direct to hospital. NHS consultants are also allowed to do a certain amount of private practice if they wish. After qualification and a two-year period of general supervised training, doctors enter onto a specialist training scheme, working in hospitals for 5–8 years before being accredited; many also do research or spend some time working abroad. All must pass difficult higher examinations.