I was hoping for some information and opinion regarding practicing medicine in England versus the USA. What are physician lifestyles like, what is the trend of doctors' salaries? What is the public preception of doctors? If you could practice in either the UK or USA which would you choose and why? I would greatly appreciate some honest opinion and information regarding this question. Thank you very much.
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Practicing medicine in UK
Started by famdoc83
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Have you begun training yet or are you done and out there practicing?
From what I know in general, UK doctors work a lot fewer hours but also have lower compensation than doctors in the U.S. Most UK doctors work for the NHS which is the National Healthcare Service. Generally consultants (aka staff physicians) make around 100,000 pounds a year which at the current exchange rate is around $160,000 a year. Generally during foundation and residency training in the UK you are paid around 27,000 pounds and going up every year which is similar to residency pay in the U.S. However, UK doctors work fewer hours. Both professions are well respected in their respective countries. In the UK, you are allowed to enter medical school straight from high school as well as after a bachelor's. In the U.S you need a bachelor's degree.
UK - Highschool -> Medical School (5-6 years) -> Foundation Years (2 years) -> Residency (2-10 years).
US- Highschool -> Bachelor's (4 years) -> Medical School (4 years) -> Residency (2-8 years).
UK - Highschool -> Medical School (5-6 years) -> Foundation Years (2 years) -> Residency (2-10 years).
US- Highschool -> Bachelor's (4 years) -> Medical School (4 years) -> Residency (2-8 years).
The hours in the UK may be fewer but they are in many specialties far more productive/busy. When I was in the US, the amount of work that actually went on could have been done in far fewer hours than we would work in the UK.
There is no "residency" in the UK that is only 2 years post-foundation.
I'm pretty sure I was making a lot more than 27K even as an F1. Generally, the junior years are actually much better paid in the UK. A consultant will start at 70-80K no matter what the specialty but yes plenty will make 100K. The equivalent of a chief resident would also be making around 70K. Our pay just gradually goes up each year, there are no big jumps.
