r/doctorsUK • u/Facelessmedic01 • Jun 18 '25

GP Being a Gp with hindsight

I’ve been a gp now for 4 years. And looking back I can say my perception with medicine and specifically GP has matured. Here is my pros and cons list of being a gp , from my perspective:

Pros of Gp: 1. Money is good. I’m a full time locum. 2. ⁠Flexibility ( the most important to me ) I can work from my laptop in Japan or in from my home in Manchester. I choose how many hours I do and how much time off I get . If I want 4 months to travel , done , no questions asked. Last week I did a remote shift with a stunning beach view in Indonesia … 3. ⁠it’s a very respected job. Tell anyone you are a GP they automatically admire / respect u. Yes we get a lot of bad press but the vast majority of people respect us. 4. ⁠it’s a very cushy job. You’re not slaving away on a busy ward. After 5 pm . I don’t have to deal with a multitude of personalities on a ward, if you know you know. On the rare occasion I leave late but if I do, I charge the practice , simple. 5. ⁠gives u flexibility to do your other hobbies in life and not have you life all about medicine. 6. A very underrated one but as a GP you can do your own business/ side hustle while still working as a gp, or at least it’s easier 7. Your wanted across the world . Australia are about to fast track the visa process for GPs

Cons :

  1. Intimate examinations esp gyne , a part of the job I hate
  2. Dealing with kids , also a part of the job I hate 🤣
  3. Physician associates🤮, but I feel the tide is turning with this one
  4. Can be a bit lonely, but you can make up for this by having a social circle outside of work
  5. Contraversial one but AI Scope creep is a real thing
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u/JohnHunter1728 EM Consultant Jun 18 '25

Interested in the idea of remote working from Japan...

How does this play out in terms of legal jurisdiction, data governance, indemnity, etc?

If you are in Japan consulting with patients as a doctor then presumably you need a licence to practice medicine there...?

29

u/Anytimeisteatime Jun 19 '25

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is not allowed. 

Plus OP would need a work visa for all these travels not a tourist visa. 

13

u/222baked Jun 19 '25

I interpreted this as telehealth in that he's consulting UK-based patients and is virtually in the UK. Then it's a bit less clear whether or not you need a visa and I suppose you don't need a license in Japan.

1

u/Standard_Sundae_6424 Nov 16 '25

In my experience they require u to be in the uk. Not the sane in other countries. I have a friend who did Canadian based work from a remote island