In August this year, I gave up my plans of become a hospitalist and joined training/residency in General Practice (aka Family Medicine) in Cambrigde. Here are the 7 reasons behind my decision.

1. The Great Specialty Dilemma

So, here's the deal. After med school, a lot of folks seem to have their whole career mapped out, right? Not me. I was into pretty much everything and couldn't decide. Total confusion city. This indecision actually led me to choose the UK over the US for my further training.

I even made a list of all the specialties I was considering. There was Emergency Medicine, Surgery, General Medicine (like Cardiology and Gastroenterology), and Urology. Quite the mix, huh?

My first stop was Emergency Medicine. But man, what a mess. The system was falling apart, and the shift work? Absolutely hated it.

Next up, surgery. I got offers in Urology, Paediatric Neurosurgery, and later Colorectal surgery. But guess what? Didn't enjoy that either.

Eventually, I had this big realization. Hospital specialty training? Not worth it. It's a long, winding road with constant moving around, and consultant jobs aren't just sitting around waiting for you.

But then, there's General Practice (GP). Only three years of training and the job prospects? Chef's kiss.

2. Jack of All Trades in General Practice

The cool thing about being a GP? No need to stick to one specialty.

Back in India, after your MBBS, you're pretty much thrown into the deep end, handling basic stuff like coughs and colds. The UK is different. Pharmacists handle the simple cases, and I get the complex stuff like asthma flare-ups, mental health issues, and even treating sex offenders. It's intense but fascinating.

The best part? I can treat babies and then their entire families. It's all about being the first point of contact before referring patients to specialists. So, I get to see all sorts of cases.

3. Work Hours – It's All About That Routine

Routine is my jam. And being a GP? It's a 9-5 gig with weekends off. Plus, I get Wednesdays off for teaching and a half-day on Tuesdays. It's technically a 3.5-day work week, but with extra portfolio work and studying, it's not exactly a walk in the park.

4. Flexibility is Key

As a GP, the world is your oyster. You can branch out into sports medicine, occupational health, even endoscopies. Once you're signed off by a consultant, you're good to go solo.

5. Work Wherever You Want

GPs are in demand, pretty much everywhere. I could work anywhere in the world, though it's a bit tricky in India. But hey, there's always the MRCP route.

6. Show Me the Money 💸

Let's talk cash. Most doctors do alright, but GPs? They're on another level. Basic salary starts at £90k, and it only goes up from there. Partners make between £150k and £200k, and locums rake in £120k to £160k. This means more travel and time off. A friend of a friend even has a unique GP practice.

7. The Joy of Flow State

Now, I'm all about that flow state, a term I proudly coined as 'flowtime'. What's that, you ask? It's when you're so immersed in what you're doing that everything else fades away. Hospitals are jam-packed with distractions, but in GP? I get my own office, relax, and focus on seeing patients.

To wrap it all up, being a GP isn't all rainbows and butterflies. It's tough, but let me tell you, it's a world apart from the hustle and bustle of hospital jobs.


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Why I chose UK over US as an Indian Doctor:    • Why I chose UK over US as an Indian D...  

⚡️Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:17 Realising hospital medicine (especially in the UK) was not worth the effort
04:46 Why choose one when I can have it all?
07:11 Sane work hours
08:53 Flexibility
11:35 Let’s talk money.
13:27 To work in flow

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WHO AM I?👨🏻‍⚕️
Hi,👋🏼 My name is Ajay. I'm a GP trainee in Cambridge, UK.I post videos on most Wednesdays at 4pm IST/11:30am BST/5:30am ET about productivity, studying and some medical entertainment peppered in-between.

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