'I'm a doctor and can earn £10k more a month after quitting NHS for Australia'
One in five doctors are considering leaving the UK to work abroad, the regulator has found.
The General Medical Council has warned without more being done to keep doctors in the NHS the Government's pledge to cut hospital waiting lists is at risk. The GMC poll of 4,700 doctors showed 19% were considering a move abroad and the main reason given was that they are "treated better" in other countries. Better pay was cited as the second most common reason for plans to emigrate.
The Mirror has spoken to a former NHS resident doctor who moved to Australia in 2023 who has explained why doctors are choosing to work Down Under.
Dr Simon Fleming, 42, had worked a placement in Australia during his earlier training years before making the decision to permanently emigrate. He said: 'During my training it was a real shock to me quite how stark the differences are for doctors in Australia compared to the UK.
'Here there is a better appreciation of work life balance and the remuneration is significantly better. A lot of people who say 'it's not about money, being a doctor is a vocation' are usually coming from a position of privilege. They haven't had money worries like a lot of us do.
'I moved from London where I was struggling to pay my electric bills in a two-bed apartment. I now live in a house with a pool. I feel extremely privileged to be very comfortable now. When I first came here I was still training and I was earning more than a consultant salary in the UK in a better resourced department.'
Simon had worked in the NHS since 2006 and upon completing his training in the UK in 2023 says he took home £4,200 a month. He then moved to be a doctor in Sydney where, with on-call work, he would earn between £5,000 and £7,000 a month. Now after qualifying as a consultant and working in Queensland, with on-call work he brings home a salary of between £9,000 and £14,000 a month. And that is without doing private work.
It comes amid a bitter dispute between resident doctors and Health Secretary Wes Streeting which resulted in a five-day strike last month. The British Medical Association insists their pay must be improved to stop an exodus of doctors from the NHS.
The GMC report concluded: "We must be alive to the ongoing risks to retention of doctors and the impact of losing talented staff. This could threaten Government ambitions to reduce waiting times and deliver better care to patients."
Some 43% of doctors told the GMC that they had researched career opportunities in other countries. It reports that 15% of doctors had taken "hard steps" towards leaving UK practice - such as applying for roles overseas or contacting recruiters.
Dr Fleming stresses that Australian salaries do vary by state and there are financial incentives to work at hospitals outside of the five biggest cities. He told the Mirror: 'I'm a hand surgeon responsible for a large geographical area here so you really can make a difference to a lot of people's lives. And that's worth more than the money.
'All my colleagues back home in the UK were describing being overstretched and burnt out. They were worried about not being able to provide the standard of care they wanted. The number of my colleagues who had been working so hard for five, ten, sometimes 20 years in training. I just got tired of setting fire to myself to keep other people warm.'
Resident doctors work in the NHS typically for between three and eight years while training on the job to become specialists and consultants. Under the current system they are rotated between posts with little say over where they go and how long they will work there.
Doctors say this constant upheaval makes it harder to settle and start a family, as well as build professional relationships.
The GMC reports that one in three doctors said they are unable to progress their education, training and careers in the way they want. Those who did not feel as though their careers were progressing the way they would wish were at higher risk of burnout and were less satisfied with their work.
Simon, who is married and has a three-year-old daughter, added: 'Coming to Australia was a decision I felt that was not just best for me but for my family. It's that balance between live-to-work and work-to-live. It's ok to say 'my daughter's got a dance show, can I move things around so I can go to that?'
'There are other things like, as a consultant I get a vehicle allowance. It's bonkers really but they recognise that a significant part of our job is getting between different hospitals. In the UK we are hit by daily parking charges whereas over here I'm supported to buy a car.
'Around 30% to 40% of all the healthcare staff are not from Australia and that's because of how we are looked after - and it really is the NHS's loss. You don't hear about many Australians looking to move.'
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged that by 2029 the NHS in England will again meet a key target of 92% of patients being seen within 18 weeks for routine hospital treatment such as hip and knee replacements. This had been missed for a decade under previous Tory governments.
The GMC report comes as Health Secretary Wes Streeting and the British Medical Association (BMA) are locked in talks to avert further strike action by resident doctors after a five-day walkout in July. Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, are in a dispute with the Government over pay and a lack of places for doctors in training.
Mr Streeting has said the Government cannot afford to improve on resident doctors' headline pay rise of 5.4% for 2025/26 - which is the highest in the public sector - but he wants to improve progression and working conditions.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "The Secretary of State had a constructive conversation with the BMA resident doctors co-chairs on tuesday and agreed to continue engagement through the summer with the aim of preventing further disruption to the NHS and patients.
"We have been clear that, following a 28.9% pay rise for resident doctors, we cannot go further on pay this year, but there is shared ambition to explore and address some of the unique additional costs that resident doctors incur through their training and work."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business News Wales
30 minutes ago
- Business News Wales
Porthcawl Optician Launches New Service and Celebrates 20 Years with Specsavers
A Porthcawl optician is marking 20 years of serving the community by launching a specialist clinic to support patients with sight loss as part of the NHS funded Low Vision Service. According to the UK's leading sight loss charity, the Royal National Institute of Blind People, around two million people are currently living with sight loss in the UK. The charity also predicts that by 2050, one person will lose their sight every three minutes. The low vision assessment service is funded by the NHS and will be overseen in Porthcawl by Specsavers director Louise Whiffin. The service aims to support those with reduced vision to maximise their remaining sight by offering tailored support and visual aids, like magnifiers and specialist lighting, as well as practical advice. It is available via accredited clinicians throughout Wales. This coincides with Louise's 20th anniversary at Specsavers after joining the business in 2005 as an optical assistant at the Swansea store. She has progressed through a variety of roles during her tenure at Specsavers, including dispensing optician and dispensing manager, before moving to the Porthcawl store in November 2022 to become a director. Over the course of her career Louise has earned multiple certifications including those in dispensing optics, British Sign Language and mental health first aid. Earlier this month, she became a fully qualified contact lens optician. Louise said: 'I'm thrilled to be celebrating 20 years at Specsavers by launching our new low vision service. 'The industry has evolved so much over the past two decades, and there are now more opportunities than ever for us to expand our services and help even more people in the area improve their eye sight. 'I'm excited to see how we can continue to adapt and thrive as a store, ensuring we provide the very best service to our customers.'
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
People with 7 health concerns and disabilities may be eligible for extra DWP help
The Access to Work scheme is designed to help people with disabilities or conditions get jobs or stay in work Navigating the workplace with a disability or health condition may feel overwhelming. But did you know the Government's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can provide several accessibility modifications to make things simpler? Set up in 1994, the Access to Work scheme is crafted to assist people with disabilities or conditions secure employment or remain in work. Whilst the support provided depends on your individual circumstances, it can encompass grants for practical assistance, such as travel expenses if you cannot use public transport, vehicle modifications, or even specialist equipment. You may also receive mental health support, communication aid for job interviews, or even physical alterations to your workplace, which can be at home if that best suits your requirements. Applications do not depend on how much you earn at work, nor will they affect other benefits. You may be asked to pay some upfront costs, but these will be reimbursed later. However, the Government's website clarifies: "Access to Work will not pay for reasonable adjustments. "These are the changes your employer must legally make to support you to do your job. Access to Work will advise your employer if changes should be made as reasonable adjustments." If you are keen to apply for the Access to Work scheme, you must live in England, Scotland, or Wales, as there is a different scheme in Northern Ireland. You must also be at least 16 years old and in a paid job or scheduled to start/return to a job within the next 12 weeks. A paid job can be either part-time or full-time. It does not include voluntary work but can include: Finally, you must have a 'physical or mental health condition or disability that means you need support to do your job or get to and from work'. While it's not a comprehensive list, the Government has provided several examples where this might be relevant Mental health conditions, like anxiety or depression Illnesses such as diabetes or epilepsy Developmental conditions, like autism spectrum disorder Learning disabilities or related conditions, such as Down's syndrome ADHD or dyslexia Temporary conditions, like a broken leg Physical disabilities, such as being hard of hearing or using a wheelchair Importantly, you don't require a formal diagnosis of your condition to make an application. Nonetheless, the Government adds: "You can get Access to Work and ESA at the same time if you work less than 16 hours a week. There are rules about working while claiming ESA. You can ask your work coach for advice and support." Anyone keen to apply for the Access to Work scheme can do so online or by calling 0800 121 7479. If you have difficulty speaking or hearing on the phone, contact Relay UK through 18001 and then 0800 121 7479. These lines are open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. You will need contact and workplace information, plus details on how your condition affects your work and what support you think you need to apply. Further information is available on the Government's website.
South Wales Guardian
3 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Andrew Flintoff backs campaign to increase helipads at hospitals
In December 2022, Flintoff sustained severe injuries while filming at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey for an episode of BBC show Top Gear. The former international cricketer was airlifted to St George's Hospital in Tooting – a major trauma centre. The helipad at the hospital was funded by a campaign with the Helicopter Emergency Landing Pads (Help) Appeal. As he backed the campaign, Flintoff said: 'When I was airlifted, that helipad wasn't just a safe spot to land on the hospital roof, it was a vital step in giving me a second chance as I had immediate access to the specialist care which helped saved my life. 'As every cricket pitch has a wicket, every hospital that needs one should have a helipad.' The Help Appeal said that there have been 30,000 landings on the 32 NHS hospital helipads funded by the charity across the country. It has also funded 23 major upgrades at other hospital helipads. The charity is aiming to fund 40 new and upgraded helipads. Robert Bertram, chief executive of the Help Appeal, said: 'We are incredibly grateful to have Freddie's support, especially knowing that his life was saved thanks, in part, to a Help Appeal-funded helipad. His story highlights exactly why the charity's work is so vital – seconds count in a medical emergency and that helipad made all the difference. 'Freddie's backing brings invaluable awareness to the importance of rapid access to emergency care for everyone, everywhere.' Sir Keith Porter, emeritus professor of clinical traumatology at the University of Birmingham, said the charity plays a 'crucial part' in getting patients to the right hospital at the right time. He added: 'Helicopter Emergency Medical Services have the ability to deliver critical care teams at or close to the side of a patient and then to transport them to the most appropriate hospital for their clinical needs, in the case of injury, usually a major trauma centre. 'Minutes count, particularly for patients with life-threatening bleeding, where the extra journey time can make the difference between life and death. 'The Help Appeal, by funding on-site helipads, helps facilitate the prompt delivery of patients directly into the emergency department with a trolley-push from the landing site.' Flintoff also recently visited the NHS staff who cared for him after the accident at St George's Hospital. He praised health workers in the NHS as 'superheroes' and described the aftermath of the crash as the 'the lowest I've ever been'. The 47-year-old praised the 'expertise, love and compassion' shown by staff at the hospital during his time of need. During a documentary about the accident, Flintoff described how he used the split-second decision-making from his cricketing days to try to reduce the impact of the crash. He said he was 'pulled face-down on the runway' for about 50 metres under the car. The former England star said he thought he had died in the accident. For months after the crash, Flintoff disappeared from public view and would leave his house only for medical appointments His recovery has been documented in a documentary, Flintoff, streamed on Disney+.
