New to the British GP and NHS system? A traveller’s tale

Ipsita Guha discusses moving from India to Cumbria to become a GP

This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on the RCGPs

Ipsita says her decision to move to the UK was impulsive, one option she considered, amongst others such as Australia, Singapore and Canada. What attracted her to Europe was the culture and ‘fantastic’ work-life balance. This she compared to being a full-time anaesthetist working as a consultant for twenty years. This workload in India, she admits, left her “overly stressed” and “burnt-out”.

General practice was, for Ipsita, a ‘vague concept’, an idea in her head. Having moved, she says she came with an open mind, ready to tackle the many “hiccups” which presented themselves.

Getting used to the weather

Ipsita describes Cumbria as “breathtakingly beautiful, with lovely people”, but also very “socially isolating”. COVID made the situation worse, restricting travel and leaving her unable to visit home. That said, the Indian national spoke of her appreciation for the supportive and “inclusive culture” at her practice in Cumbria, which helped keep her sane.

The big differences she struggled to get used to were the food, the traffic and the weather! “I’m now comfortable walking on a windy wet day – which seemed a ridiculous concept three years ago.”

Teamwork

The NHS system was completely new, but well-signposted by colleagues. Training per se was a new concept – not just medically but also in gaining a basic understanding of portfolio and reflective learning. The e-portfolio, she admits, was also a bit of an uphill task! The most relevant and important task was the understanding of teamwork and respecting the lack of hierarchy in primary care.

Compared to India, Ipsita loved the feeling that everyone has each other’s back, which she described as very “useful in day-to-day practice”. “I’m in total awe of this system. Whenever I read anything negative in the media, I say to myself, ‘They have no idea of the actual gargantuan task being accomplished every single day, despite the paucity of resources.’”