If you used to be an NHS GP, what are you doing now?

[fluffysocksgoodbookwine]

I've recently handed in my notice after two episodes of burnout in 18 months. I've tried my best, had lots of input and support from GP Health, but the practice was struggling long before I got there, and we simply don't have enough staff to do the work safely. The workload is completely overwhelming in quantity and complexity.

I've looked around at other practices advertising salaried posts, but they all are due to lose at least half their GP sessions with partners due to retire within the next 2-3 years, so although they're more stable than my practice at present, they're unlikely to remain stable.

I'm looking at being a locum for a small number of sessions per week whilst I decide whether to retrain, or looking for private sector work, but I feel very guilty about leaving the NHS and my struggling practice.

It would really help to hear from other GPs who have left NHS general practice, and what you're doing now. The only other people I know who have left permanently, have either emigrated (not an option) or are now SAHPs (wouldn't suit me). I'm lucky that DH is prepared to support me to retrain, but at present I'm very burned out and my confidence is low. I've never had to look for work outside of clinical/academic posts before, so I don't really know how to go about it, or what I might be able to do.

Thanks in advance.

@fluffysocksgoodbookwine they'll be advertising for any Dr's for SEC in Feb.

Also look up Dr Liz Miller. She set up Doctors Support Network. She campaigns about Dr burn out

Thank you all for sharing your experience and good ideas, your helping me to see that I have plenty of options, but need to take my time and not jump into anything else too soon. I had dinner with medical friends last night who both said the same as @fedup2017, that I should locum for a year, get my head straight, and explore ideas/ keep an eye out for opportunities.
I’m not naturally this anxious or under confident, they pointed out that this is all part of the burnout, so I need to recover before I throw myself into something else.
I might find that locum work suits me better, and continue that long term.
Thank you

You’re helping me (not your)

Have you considered teaching? Theres a huge shortage of maths and science teachers, pgce is only a year and youd get a huge bursary to cover costs

I'd be setting pretty robust t and cs at the moment if I was locumming. ( and sticking to them obviously) So 15-18 per surgery, catch up slots. No extras . No signing. No phone calls.

You should still get work but will protect your mental health for a little while.

Don't forget our identity is tied up with "being a doctor" and then can make it difficult to try something else but there is a whole world of jobs and opportunities out there and you already have some fantastic transferable skills.

Good luck

While you are making your mind up op what about Pip/esa assessor for DWP
They always seem to have vacancies ( I wonder why) I was something my dil was going to do ( specialist nurse) but it didn’t work so well with childcare
You sound lovely and compassionate and just what the service needs and you won’t be a pushover for failing so many sick people just to meet targets
Salary about £32k I believe
It might relieve the pressure and give you thinking time.
I try to go to the doctor as little as possible. I feel so sorry for them never knowing what’s going to be walking through that door.
Sometimes you must feel so helpless when no cure is available or some patients won’t make A few lifestyle changes to get better health.

I'm not a GP, but worth in a surgery with GP's, and hear the struggles are GP's go through. Some of which have openly discussed wanting to leave and look at a different career, but feel they would throw away years of hard work, so become torn.
A few of ours become locums, so they can choose their hours, work placements and less responsibility (still have referrals to do) but they don't have to do any work flowed letters, tasks, pathology pathways etc. most of them take the holidays off to spend with their children, and they all work part time (3 whole days max) but mostly do less. I know speaking to them they find this way a lot less stressful than when salaried.

One of our regular locums also works at what we call the success clinics, so OOH booked appointments. She enjoys that a lot as still gets to see patients, but it's quite strict on what can be booked in at the success clinics, so it's basically acute illness only.

Might be a bit random, but something that might work alongside locum work is working/volunteering for a charity, eg. www.freedomfromtorture.org/jobs-and-volunteering this one that works to support torture survivors - doctors are needed to write medical reports that the survivors use to support asylum applications. I'm not sure a current vacancy for doctors, but I know they often do advertise.