Real Stories - UK and Irish Doctors

• The teaching is outstanding - Dr. Sarah Jefferies (UK)

  

  I moved to New Zealand in Nov 2008, by myself. Getting here was pretty easy, the most difficult part was leaving family and friends behind, but New Zealand very quickly felt like a home away from home.
  
  My first impression when I got off the plane? It was beautifully sunny with brilliant Welly blues and greens. A glorious Wellington day which I have since heard people all over NZ talk of. It felt exotic, but also strangely comfortable... Such friendly people and a startling number of familiar accents from home. I had visited Australia before, but not NZ, and I remember thinking instantly that I had made the right choice.
  
  I worked in the NHS as a doctor for two years before coming to NZ. From my experience the NHS and NZ jobs have been worlds apart. In New Zealand there is an agreement which looks after the rights of doctors called the MECA. Shifts are more humane and the wellbeing of a doctor appears, from my experience, to be more important here. You get a say in where you want to work and how you want to work. There is usually a separate management unit running the rosters, and it is their responsibility to cover absenteeism and annual leave. Meals during your shift at the hospital are free, and proper study leave provided for. Exam tuition, flights to Oz to sit exams and books are also covered by the Health Board. Teaching is also excellent in the departments in which I've worked.
  
  The lifestyle is easy going, and the pace is as fast as you like it. Kiwis are very active people, and you can choose not to take part, but might find yourself getting involved anyway. Everything is accessible and having a go is encouraged. The Maori culture is fascinating and the NZ nation is very proud of its roots. 
  
  I have been working at Wellington Hospital. I have worked in the Emergency Dept here and in General Medicine. Both departments are very well run, the job is supported and teaching is outstanding! The standard has been incomparable to my experiences in the NHS.
  
  I would recommend it wholeheartedly. You will not regret it. EVERYBODY who comes and who has to return to the UK leaves with unforgettable memories and tears in their eyes. Everybody I know stayed longer than they intended to, and two of my friends failed to return to the UK twice and are now training here.   I plan to stay indefinitely. Would I recommend working in Australasia to my friends? Definitely - wonderful lifestyle, brilliant opportunities, living in this fabulous country, day to day.
  
  The biggest challenge has been definitely the distance from family at times of need. That is always going to be an issue.

   

  Back to top

• Less stress than the UK - Dr. Tara Kessaram (UK)

  

  I came to NZ in August 2008, for the first time, alone. The process of getting here was very simple. MedRecruit made it very clear what I needed to get done regarding paperwork, minimising confusion. Getting a visa was surprisingly stress free as well.
  
  It was a little colder and greyer than I expected, as I had been hoping to escape the UK weather. However, it soon improved, and seeing Wellington Harbour in the sun, a couple of days later, I knew I had made a very good decision.
  
  In NZ there is less stress than the UK, a friendlier and less hierarchical working environment, more sympathy and understanding from those who make the rota, payment for working overtime and covering the duties of your colleagues, and overall more appreciation for your work. There may be more responsibility earlier on in training in NZ due to the transition straight from house surgeon to registrar.
  
  The culture/lifestyle is more oriented to the outdoors in NZ. People in NZ are very friendly, especially in Wellington, and have a very good sense of fun and humour.
  
  I am currently a registrar in Public Health, currently doing my Masters in Public Health at the University of Otago, in Wellington. The specialty training programme for public health under the NZ College for Public Health has been fairly well organised, and the teaching at the University of Otago has been very good and supportive so far.
  
  There's a lot to be gained by moving to Australasia, be it temporarily or on a more permanent basis. I would keep all options open by ensuring that the UK exams were still taken, possibly before coming to Aus/NZ depending on how far into the UK training scheme you are.
  
  I plan to stay until at least until 2014. I would highly recommend working here, mainly for the ability to have a better work-life balance, but also to live in a beautiful environment. I've enjoyed the thrill of moving to a new place and starting a new chapter in my life.
  
  The biggest challenge is that the distance to home is considerable!

   

  Back to top

• New Zealand has re-energised me - Steve Coppinger (UK)

  Before working in New Zealand I was a Consultant Urologist in the United Kingdom. I had become increasingly disillusioned with the demise of the NHS and my children had indicated they did not want to live and work in the UK in the future, so the world was my oyster.
  
  I settled on New Zealand for many reasons. With the help of MedRecruit, I now work full time here. It is important to have the right support and I remain grateful to the team at MedRecruit for providing it in spades. They organised an initial locum and provided help at every stage.
  
  Going to work in New Zealand has re-energised me and I now enjoy going into work every day, a feeling that I had lost in the UK.
  

   

   

  Back to top