Reflection: My Journey to the UK

Dr. Chandrashekhar Mankar
MBBS, MD, DNB, DESAIC
Consultant Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist
Consultant Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist
📧 Email: c.mankar@nhs.net

When Umesh asked me to write about my journey to the UK, the first word that came to my mind was “Reflection.”

That’s because, once you enter the NHS system and start building your portfolio, you end up writing a lot of reflections. This was quite new to me — we were never trained to think or write this way during our earlier education. Initially, I found it difficult, but with practice, it became more natural. Reflection plays an important role not just in clinical practice but also in personal growth and life decisions.

Before I begin my journey, let me introduce myself.

Beginning

I was born and brought up in a village (Fegad) in the Nagpur district. I moved to Nagpur for my 11th standard and later completed my MBBS from Government Medical College, Nagpur. I then moved to Mumbai for my MD in Anaesthesia from Seth GS Medical College & KEM Hospital.

At that time, I had two young children and was planning to buy our first dream home. But after some years, I realized that with my current earnings, I wouldn’t be able to afford a flat in the area we wished for. That realization triggered a strong desire to explore options that could uplift my financial situation.

Moving Abroad

It wasn’t a particularly difficult decision. I was already frustrated with the salary I was earning, and fortunately, my brother-in-law was working abroad. I got an opportunity to join a new Heart Centre in Oman, which had just opened.

Life in Oman was comfortable and steady for a few years. However, I began to feel that while it was financially rewarding, my academic and professional growth had become stagnant.

Pros of Oman:

• Familiar Asian culture and cuisine

• Availability of domestic help

• Safe and peaceful lifestyle

• Proximity to India

• Low cost of living

• Cons of Oman:

• Restricted work culture

• Limited legal rights and protections

• Limited scope for academic progress or promotions

Moving to the UK

After realizing there were no significant opportunities for academic growth or promotion in Oman, I started exploring options to move elsewhere.

I considered several countries:

– Dubai: Limited opportunities in cardiac anaesthesia, and licensing required additional exams.

– Australia: Thought it would be expensive and difficult in terms of job availability and career progression.

– UK: Seemed more accessible, especially as a few of my colleagues had already made the move.

I chose the UK and followed this route:

Passed EDAIC – Recognized by the GMC for registration (https://esaic.org/professional-growth/edaic/)
Passed OET – A language proficiency test (alternatively, you can take IELTS, but I found OET easier)
Verified my certificates through EPIC (https://epic.ecfmgepic.org/login)
Applied for permanent GMC registration (https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing)
Applied for jobs via NHS platforms (https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/ | https://apps.trac.jobs/)

Initially, you can apply for:

– Senior Clinical Fellow

– Specialty Registrar (ST3+)

Depending on your experience, you may even get a Locum Consultant post. However, it’s usually advisable to gain NHS experience first.

I moved to the UK as a Senior Clinical Fellow in Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia. After a year, I was offered a Consultant position. Currently, I am working as a Consultant Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton.

Life in the UK

Pros:

Healthy and professional working environment
Fixed working hours
Excellent standard of patient care
Abundant opportunities for research and academic growth
Peaceful life with clean surroundings
Quality education and free schooling for children
Free healthcare
Cons:
Limited social life (from my experience)
Mandatory training and yearly appraisals
Unpredictable weather
Distance from India
Limited domestic help — you have to do most things yourself

I hope my journey can help those who are considering a similar path. If anyone is planning to relocate to the UK and needs guidance, feel free to contact me — I’m happy to help.

Warm regards,

Dr. Chandrashekhar Mankar

MBBS, MD, DNB, DESAIC

Consultant Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist

New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, UK

📧 Email: c.mankar@nhs.net