Job options for ex-doctors?

[Gottogetaplan]

Have name changed to post. I have resigned as a doctor and would welcome any ideas for a middle aged ex-doctor that is a few years from retirement.

It doesn’t even need to be that dramatic - if OP is details-oriented and is being pushed to see patients faster and in a more slapdash way than she is comfortable with, a switch to eg accountancy could be perfect, despite the other pressures of being an accountant.

If the issue is rota gaps and managing a disaffected workforce safely under severe constraints from management, then anything where she isn’t a middle manager will be an improvement.

Ageism is so depressing

But unfortunately it's a feature when you are job hunting (unless you are definitely still going up a career path of some sort)

But it's wrong. Someone late 40s may well stick around as long or longer than someone in their 20s. Either or both may want to flit for a better opportunity. A longer stint (10 years+) is achievable from either

Integrated care board / place-based clinical leads for key areas of commissioning. There are 10s of them aligned to each place - particularly if you’re London-based. Opportunities with NiCE, medical education, private work in your field of expertise, research, consultancy (including digital for big tech companies). Honestly, the list is endless with your qualifications and experience.

Some great suggestions. What area of medicine were you in and what did you enjoy most about the job (burnout notwithstanding)? Is there anything you'd like to take forward especially? Do you need to make a particular wage or just not rely on your pension yet?

Do you still like the idea of providing care but need a totally different context (MSF or similar, cruise ship or resort as suggested, maybe medical officer with something like the OSCE (not the OSCEs you're used to, big international security organisation!).

PIP assessor. 111 clinician- this would allow you to continue your NHS pension contributions I presume.

The GMC or a med neg law firm might have some options. Academia- teaching or research.

OP has not been back to say what kind of doctor she is.

She's lucky to be getting lots of free advice.

Alot depends on what you want to earn.

not too bothered about how much: reasonable; decent ; Good; V Good

First Aid trainer - join a company or start your own
Health and Wellness Adviser - I would look at coaching or mentoring for those who are type 2, not exactly a shrinking market!! Or menopausal/Peri
Insurance Co Dr - medical underwriting, claim assessment and monitoring, fraud investigations, policy writing etc
If you can face working as a Dr still how about some of these online Dr or private practice pick and choose your time for working and generally low key. Alternatively out of hrs cover?
Training of other Dr if you have a specialist area - e.g. menopause
Could you go into academia and training of other Dr?
Court work as an expert witness, although it is touch with abuse cases etc
DWP assessments or similar
Cosmetic small procedures??

Sure there are loads more

You can earn very well as an expert witness if you do high quality work.

Doctor on a cruise ship . It's a skoosh. First aid, mostly minor, anything broken or life threatening the Captain will offload to hospital ASAP); certify the occasional sudden death (they died happy); worst you'll encounter is an outbreak of norovirus/ having to make social chat to little old ladies.

Depends what sort of doctor you are to do cruise ship - really only going to work if you have GP or A+E experience.

Also not an option if you want to be at home with your partner and kids. I know a single GP who does luxury train holidays but - he's a GP and he just needs to put his cat in the cattery.

Go private practice?

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

I was general medicine. Not a consultant. Still GMC registered. I have already had break to think things through and PHP help but cannot go back to a job with unsustainable workloads.

I would prefer to do something that is not clinical. I don't need to earn a huge amount but sadly still need to have an income.

Private is not actually that simple depending on: what specialty you are, what level you got to, how prestigious you were in the NHS

For example in my specialty there is bugger all private work.

I’ve often fantasised about being a rural post woman. Fresh air, lots of walking and listening to a podcast, not sure if that is the reality though. I know a female tube driver, three months training and £70k a year.

This is my reality not as a post woman but a job allowing me some balance, although I don’t to anything as I like to hear the birds.

Occupational health, public health, research, a non-clinical NHS role, working for a health regulator like the GMC, academia, a health policy role with a local authority? There are loads of options.

Expert witness wouldn't really be viable if you are not a consultant or a GP, so forget that suggestion.

You have to get a training post for occupational health and public health jobs unfortunately.

Maybe a doctor in one of the forces such as police or fire brigade. Or a prison doctor. Or a doctor that does medical checks for pension or life insurance services.

Comedian?
Paul Sinha, Adam Kay, Mike Wozniak, Harry Hill…

Prison doctors need to be GPs.

I know you really don't want to do something clinical but a few years ago I was in a similar boat to you and thinking about retraining.

I locummed as I needed an income while I made up my mind, and working somewhere where staff were valued, management were kind and sensible, and the workload was doable made me reconnect with my specialty in a way I didn't think possible.

I think stepping out and doing a part time 9-5 staff grade role might be a breath of fresh air for you.

Medicine is an incredibly popular course at university... It might be worth contacting a university and asking if they could offer you a role, maybe teaching, maybe pastoral or processing medicine applications? Alternatively you could set up a business improving applications before they are sent to UCAS? However you will have to (or pretend to) be enthusiastic about medicine.

Anyone I know who has left medicine has gone into pharma - rep type roles. It's still stressful and long hours, but the pay is good and it's a different type of stress if you get me - commercial rather than life or death.

Google medical insurance jobs, there are lots of jobs in the insurance industylry that require a medical degree/experience both in claims and underwriting.

Hi OP I have sent you a PM. All the best whatever you decide

Teaching at a medical school? A nice low stress option from what I have heard, though pay is poor.