Aspiring general practice doctors are increasingly moving to the UK to pursue a variety of career opportunities. However, there are a number of challenges to the practice of medicine in the UK. These include work-life balance, burnout, and pay. We have listed some of these concerns below. The UK medical training system has also been criticised for the length of its training programmes. Some doctors have complained that they spend too much time on unrelated work and rotations, which do not prepare them for their specialties.
Work-life balance
There are a number of factors that can affect a doctor’s work-life balance when moving to another country. For example, it is important to consider whether the career is suited to a doctor’s family. The study examined the work-life balance of family physicians in the UK. It used semistructured focus groups and interviews with trainee doctors. It was conducted during the junior doctor contract dispute in 2015 and was part of a larger study conducted by the General Medical Council on the fairness of postgraduate medical training. The survey sampled both UK and overseas doctors at all training stages, including Foundation and fellowship.
Work-life balance is defined differently for each physician, but there are some common aspects. For example, a physician’s typical day may include seeing patients, performing administrative tasks, teaching and attending meetings, as well as engaging in community outreach activities. Work-life balance also requires good time management skills, such as setting priorities, planning and organizing, and avoiding time-wasting activities.
Burnout
There are many issues related to burnout and the migration of caregivers in health care. A new study by the Hungarian Medical Chamber has provided insight into this topic. A link to an anonymous questionnaire was sent to all members with a valid e-mail address. The survey was then analysed using a linear regression model.
This study’s findings suggest that there are regional differences in physician burnout. Physicians in Africa, for example, are more likely to experience burnout than their colleagues in other parts of the world. The reasons for this are diverse, including the average age of physicians in their home countries and the fact that these countries suffer from a shortage of physicians. Further research is needed to determine how cultural and systemic factors impact burnout and how to enhance resilience.
Pay
Thousands of British doctors are moving abroad each year in search of a better life, and a large proportion of these are recently qualified. Many of these new graduates are disillusioned with their profession and seek a fresh start in countries like Australia, where they can earn two or three times as much as doctors in Britain. In fact, Hazel, an online job board in Australia, currently has three positions available as consultant radiologists. The average salary for these positions is PS250,000.
However, many overseas doctors report that they have not yet had an exit interview, and have no regrets about leaving the NHS. Many also report that their work life balance and pay were more favorable in the overseas environment. Doctors who moved abroad were more likely to experience burnout in the UK, but this was reversed in overseas practice. Overall, four key themes emerged in the qualitative data: financial vs social capital; a need to pursue an opportunity abroad; and cultural differences.
Education required
To work in general practice in the NHS, you must be on the GP Register. Whether you’re a locum or a registrar, you will need to pass the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or Certificate of Eligibility for General Practice Registration (CEGPR) to qualify. Both the IELTS and the Occupational English Test (OET) are accepted as proof of English language proficiency. You’ll need to achieve a score of 7.5 or higher to qualify as a prospective registrant with the GMC. There are a number of test centres in the UK that GP Jobs Australia offer the test. You can visit the GMC website for more information.
The GMC will require documentary proof to support your application. Original documents are required to complete the pre-registration identity check. In addition, the GMC will conduct an in-person visit to ensure that you’re a medical practitioner, take a photograph of yourself, and assess your qualifications. If your qualifications are recognised, you can then apply for registration as a general practice doctor.
Exclusion criteria
If you are a general practice doctor who is moving from another country to practice in the U.S., you will need to meet certain criteria to apply for a license. Generally, you will need to be licensed in another country and have practiced medicine for two years prior to applying for a license in the United States. You will also need to have successfully completed a postgraduate training program and passed a board-approved clinical competency examination. Despite these restrictions, there are still some options available to you.
The survey asked the physicians to answer questions about their sociodemographics, their interest in research, and what factors motivated their participation in scientific research projects. The survey also asked them to add free-text comments indicating whether they would like to collaborate in research projects in the future. The majority of respondents answered yes to these questions.