Anesthesia in UK

[Twiggidy]

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I have off beat question. Most people abroad seek to come to the US to practice medicine (mostly), my question is....

How hard is it for US Citizens to move to the UK to practice anesthesia or medicine in general?

Like i said, off beat question

 

[bashwell]

Very difficult without UK or EU passport or citizenship. Plus UK anaesthetists get paid a lot less even as attending or consultants working in the NHS. At least that's what a UK anaesthetist told me and why he moved to the U.S. even though he had to start all over. Lots of UK physicians Down Under too. Private practice in the UK exists but apparently hard to break into, but I don't know as much about this aspect.

Better if you can go to Australia because anaesthetists get treated well, respected, no CRNA or equivalent threat, not the same medico legal environment so not as worried as in the U.S., etc. Salary not as high as a staff specialist (similar to academic employment), though still higher than UK I believe, but private practice can be very lucrative. Lifestyle much better in general.

 

[cockblockandrun]

I have off beat question. Most people abroad seek to come to the US to practice medicine (mostly), my question is....

How hard is it for US Citizens to move to the UK to practice anesthesia or medicine in general?

Like i said, off beat question

I have done some "anesthetist" locum work in the UK. Here are some thoughts:

1. The UK General Medical Council recognizes 2 US board certifications- Peds and anesthesia. They say they are not "equivalent" to an anesthesiologists but they don't have to examine the curriculum since the GMC has already determined the level of certification from the ABA is one of the highest in the world. So if you are a UK/EU citizen, boarded in anesthesia within 3 years of certification.... then you can apply to get a "FULL REGISTRATION WITH LICENSE TO PRACTICE".

2. In order to become a "consultant", it is a much more harder process and I don't know any American who has gone through that process. The reason is the GMC assesses if someone is a consultant in a far more scrutinized and detailed way than the US system does. I looked into going into the consultant route but then realized I would have to be practicing in the UK for a few years to get it.

3. In terms of pay, it is less than the US if you work for the NHS. There are different grades of pay in the UK. Since I am not on the consultant list, I work as a "specialist doctor". I get treated like a consultant once they find out I am boarded in the US and am in active clinical practice in the US. It is just a few pounds less than the consultant makes but I like working in the UK because I am able to tap into the NHS system for my health.

4. There is a lot more paperwork, more regulation and rules in the UK. The GMC will come down very very hard on the doctors there and they are placed at a much higher standard than here in the US. There is less fear about litigation and lawyers so that balances out working in the UK.