A JUNIOR doctor who left the NHS behind to work in Australia is now full of regret.
The disappointed medic shared their shock after leaving the UK for “greener pastures” Down Under but discovering a very different reality.
twitterDr Michael Mrozinski made the move after feeling tired of pressure on the NHS[/caption]
While some NHS junior doctors, such as Dr Michael Mrozinski, have made the move abroad over the increasing intensity of shifts, others have gone for a “fairytale” they see on social media.
They posted anonymously on Reddit, and wrote: “The stories of greener pastures in the land Down Under, where the sun is always shining, and pay is significantly higher were too to good to turn down.
“I’ve now spent four months here and, whilst I always knew that I will be working a full time job and not going on holiday, I was not expecting my journey here to be such a mixed bag.”
After four months living in Australia, they said: “Coming here has genuinely made me appreciate the NHS more.
“We are not far off in terms of quality of care given to patients, and all it needs is the money it deserves and the pay raise that all the health care staff deserve.”
While they said they weren’t warning people not to make the move, they encouraged those thinking about it to manage their expectations.
“Living in Australia is class, working here is not great”, they added.
And they were not alone, many other junior doctors also expressed their regrets at leaving their NHS jobs in the UK behind.
“I appreciate that it might be great for some people, but it absolutely was not for me”, penned one frustrated medic.
“There are wonderful things about Australia, it just wasn’t for me in the end.”
Another Brit was surprised by the differences between Australian stereotypes and reality.
One made the move across the glove with the expectation of a more laidback environment, but claimed: “Aussies are very nice but very serious at work. Not much going for coffees or lunch together.”
Meanwhile, a former NHS refugee junior doctor confessed they now have “cold feet” one month after leaving the UK.
Their concern stemmed from the distance between their home country and Australia in case of a family emergency.
For one doctor, a combination of the above resulted in them moving back home.
They wrote: “The people were friendly and pleasant but had zero interest in including me or other UK doctors in any social activity.
“It was depressing. I made good friends with other UK doctors but to be honest I’m not really in touch with any local doctors at all, not for lack of trying.”
They spoke of how Australian cities are “isolated” from each other and the long haul journey times were the nail in the coffin.
On medic, Dr Drew, told MailOnline said: “It’s fairy tale… ”go over it will be the life of your dreams… You’ll be sitting on a beach sipping piña colada”… It’s not the reality.”
This comes as thousands more apprentice doctors and nurses are set to be trained to bolster the NHS workforce.
The cap on medical school places is set to be doubled from 7,500 in England to 15,000 so more brainy pupils can become doctors.
Ministers have also signed off just over £1billion more in training cash for the NHS to teach medics beyond the next election.
It comes as a bid to attract more NHS staff from within the UK rather than looking abroad to fill vacancies, said Steve Barclay yesterday.
Last year, more foreign doctors joined the NHS than the total number of medical school places available in English universities.
Mr Barclay’s frank admission that we need to train more medics here at home to staff the NHS represents a significant shift in policy.
He said the plan is “not a one off” but the beginning of a “roadmap that goes well beyond the next few years” and puts “people at the heart” of the NHS.
Meanwhile, existing junior doctors have recently announced more strikes next month.
The July walkouts, across five days, are thought to be the longest single period of industrial action in the history of the NHS.
They will begin at 7am on July 13, with services resuming after 7am on July 18.
GettySecretary of State for Health and Social Care Steve Barclay wants to attract more NHS staff from within the UK[/caption] Read More