quitting NHS/medicine

[Cocolocos]

I am struggling with finding a way forward, and feel trapped/unsure what to do. I'm a doctor, and feel utterly burned out. Fed up of the fact that my job no longer seems to have much focus on actually caring for people - it's just constant pressure about moving people through the system, issues with lack of beds in the hospital, and being forced to make decisions that I feel very uncomfortable with professionally. For various reasons, I am not able to move to a different part of the country (and also I am aware that probably these issues are everywhere), and I am also not in a position to change my specialty. So I am left with choosing between trying to put up with it for another 20+ years, trying to change things in my current job (which seems impossible, as it's a wider culture and funding issue), or quitting medicine altogether.

I would love to quit, and do something else but I have no idea what else I could do. I thought about primary teaching, but I imagine that it has it's own set of stresses/frustrations. I would love to actually do something totally different (e.g. make-up artist, beauty therapy, or even open a cafe) but I am not brave enough to make such a drastic change.

Not sure what I am looking for here..... Anyone else felt similarly? What did you do? Any other ideas??

No advice to give but I'm in the same boat. 15 years in the NHS and I've had enough. No idea what else I could do instead as my job and degree is very specific (allied health professions).

I am a GP and whilst it has it's stresses, I find it great for working part time and working seasonally, and options to develop special interests and have several phases to your career.

I have known doctors go into pharma (which they report as a great working environment where they feel innovation is encouraged), finance (in London), private health screening (which they find enjoyable and low stress), medical student teaching, aesthetic medicine/ botox, and switch to specialities such as histopath, public health, occupational health. OH you can be employed by a private company during reg training, so a completely different working environment.

There is a Facebook group called I think Alternative Careers for Doctors which has more off piste suggestions.

Primary teaching would be a terrible idea I think (sorry) as you are moving to another very stressful profession that teachers are leaving, and not capitalising on your current education/ experience so will start at the bottom again.

Does your deanery offer any career coaching?

I'd suggest you post on The Couch on the Doctors.net.uk forum. You can also post anonymously there - it is doctors only and there are a lot of wise heads who will be able to offer advice.

Try working for a Pharma company

Take your time, look for direction, and get your stress under control so you can look at your current situation more objectively. That might include some time off, some mentoring.

Talk to agencies about different roles where they could use your skills.

There’s a Facebook group called alternative careers for doctors, might have some inspiration.
Have you down any research/education? Would an OOPE/OOPR be an option? Would give you transferable skills while keeping door open to return to training after a couple of years.

Yeah, the Couch tends to be helpful. Or if you're more into fb there's the tea and empathy group, where you can ask a mod to post for you.

I worked as a dentist for 20 years. To be honest I never felt happy in the job but it's difficult when that's what you trained for.

One day I saw an advert for a job in a law firm providing dental advice . I applied never thinking I'd get it but I did and I love it! Ive been doing this 5 years now.

I took a pay cut initially but my pay has now risen back to my original salary due to annual increases and promotion.

This kind of job could work for a Dr too and the great thing is that you are using your knowledge but in a different way.

Have you considered Woking for the medical defence union? Fascinating career.

Defence Medical Services employs quite a lot of civilian doctors dentists nurses physio pharmacists etc Can be hectic at times but interesting.

I work in the NHS and have been for 20 plus years. I'm a clinician and manager of clinicians including doctors. Sorry to hear this, but I can totally understand you might feel like this. The NHS is tough. What's your medical director like and your manager? If a doctor came to me saying this I'd be looking to support them with their stress and career, maybe thinking about sabbaticals, other ways to work within the NHS healthcare system i.e. commissioning, tutor, secondment. There's always something else to do. We're short of doctors and need them so your skill set is valuable in lots of ways. You'll have worked hard to have a medical career.

It might be that you need a break to help you decide your next move whatever is. Good luck

I left the NHS two years ago after 30 years of Nursing. I embarked on a very different career. I was fortunate enough to be able to take a pay cut but now am almost back up to a Nurses wage. Life is too short to be unhappy. I thought I could never leave because it was all I had ever known, but I am happier now than I have ever been - no anxiety , lying awake in bed wondering if I had missed something and one of my patients had suffered, no difficult decisions that I felt ill equipped to make, no bitchy, bossy colleagues making me feel inadequate.

I did ten years as an NHS consultant before I felt I had to escape. I know work in drug development in pharma and I love it. Still clinically challenging but in a very different setting. Also the working hours and significant pay increase have greased the wheels so to speak.