Moving to the UK to work as a family doctor (known in the UK as a general practitioner, or GP) provides huge opportunities for both your working and your personal life. A variety of areas are currently recruiting GPs, so whether you can see your family living in a vibrant city full of museums and activities; exploring the country's beautiful woodland and countryside in a rural practice; or enjoying all the pleasures of the seaside in a coastal area, there is sure to be something to suit you – all less than an hour by train from London.
Kent and Medway is a diverse and exciting destination with so much to see and do, steeped in history and rich in military and maritime heritage. Many of Kent's towns exude historical charm, full of exciting culture and hidden gems, while its numerous pretty villages have a traditional friendly charm beloved by locals and visitors alike.
Similarly, you can choose what kind of surgery you prefer to practice at, from a large busy surgery where you can truly expand your clinical practice, to a small village surgery where the emphasis is on building relationships with the patients on your list: list sizes in the county vary from under 2,000 to more than 36,000.
On a typical day, 30 to 40 appointments are offered to your patients, with the occasional walk-in emergencies. That means at least 30 ten minute sessions in which to welcome, introduce, glean, triage, diagnose, reassure, comfort, investigate, refer, treat, prescribe and follow up. The work is challenging but often exhilarating, with plenty of variety and much to pique your interest.
No two appointments are the same and you never know what will be coming up in the next appointment, giving you a fantastic opportunity to expand your clinical practice.
Then there are the phone calls. An average day probably involves ten or so calls to patients. In areas where there is a high elderly population, home visits may be required daily, and can range from two to eight visits.
Most GPs agree that the best thing by far about the job is the patients. The privilege you feel to have them trust in you and respect your decision-making is immense, and hugely rewarding; being able to fix their problems and make them feel better, control their pain and provide some comfort is extremely gratifying. The people make this job.
There are several qualities you need to have in your doctor's bag to succeed as a GP in the UK. Professionalism is of the utmost importance, as is the ability to keep your cool under pressure. Resilience is vital: no matter what happened in your last appointment, it cannot affect those still to come. Empathy is also essential to bolster you through the non-stop pace of general practice in the UK.
In evenings and at the weekend, you can get out and explore your new home, known as the Garden of England, with its 4,000 kilometres of countryside and 560 kilometres of stunning coast. The area boats some of the best beaches in Europe – voted by Lonely Planet – as well as exciting art galleries, elegant stately homes, romantic getaways, fun-filled family attractions, and miles and miles of exhilarating foot and cycle trails.
Getting to and around the area couldn't be easier with its excellent public transport links: Medway, for instance, is only 30 miles from London and 40 miles from the Channel ports and Eurotunnel. The high-speed train from London St. Pancras takes just 35 minutes to reach Medway itself, yet housing prices in Kent are on average 60% lower than its London counterparts.
If you see yourself living somewhere with beautiful beaches, stunning castles, exciting culture and delicious food and drink, then you've come to the right place. Get in touch now to find out how you can take the first steps towards your exciting new life in Kent.
For more information follow click here
