I'm a British trained GP and have been qualified as a GP for nearly 7 years. I have already applied for licensure in BC and been approved a potiential provisional license. I now need to consent for my credentials to be approved and have been asked by healthmatch BC about jobs I am interested in.

I want to be near the city of Vancouver with good public transport links. I have two young children (ages 4 and 6) and wondered what areas one would suggest.

If there are any GPs out there who have made the move, can you also advice me what it is like? I am daunted by the hospital admitting "privileges". How does this work out on a practical level in terms of working life and transferring from UK general practice?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Hi Oodles
We are both GPs in the Okanagan.
Came here nearly 3 years ago. There's a few of us around BC.
When we moved , Vancouver was not considered an area in need so we couldn't go here , although to be honest we didn't really want to. I hear now it's ok. I can't really advise where to live in Vancouver but would say be afraid, be very afraid of hospital privileges. They have a huge effect on your life , the rest I will need to PM you with. You need 3 posts first.
As far as I'm aware most areas in and around Vancouver have the usual developed world way of dealing with inpatients, ie specialist care or at least hospitalists.
Healthmatch are excellent and will guide you through all the CPSBC and immigration stuff, they then help you get BC PNP.
Watch the PCRC, they are awful!!
Exams- any half decent UK GP will pass them, even me!
What else would you like to know?.

I am now afraid.

I wanted to be near the city and apply for the area of Fraser Valley too but was advised by Healthmatch that all their posts require me to take on hospital privileges. I assume that this is not true of all areas in BC from your post.

Also I'm a bit new to this site so don't know how to "PM"....

You need 3 posts and then if you click on my name it will give you the option of sending a personal message

Thanks....

Please come to Barrie (Ontario...not BC)...there is a shortage of GPs here (and before the usual Barrie bashers go off on one, I live here and love it). If not, good luck in your move! If you know any other GPS who want to move...tell them to come to Barrie! Not having enough GPs is one of the few things bugging me about the place.

Forget about moving to any of those dumps in BC or ON. You'll be much happier and fulfilled if you move to beautiful Gatineau, QC. People will be falling over themselves to sign up with a Brit GP. I'd be your first client.

My wife is a nurse and she said there are all ways needing doctors in Prince George

I live now in Victoria BC. There is a great need for GP's here. There is a huge number of people without a family doctor. I would be delighted to hear that you would be willing to relocate to this area. Please consider this location, it has much to offer.

There is a shortage of GPs pretty much everywhere in BC (and probably Canada). I work with a lot of Doctors across the Province and "I can't find patients" is rarely something I hear!
P.S. if you are looking for a billing or EMR solution, drop me a message

There is a huge shortage of doctors in Quebec and particularly in Gatineau. Even to get into a walk-in here you basically have to camp outside from about midnight. It seems that a large number of people rely on ERs, and they know what to expect. You see them turn up with bags of food, books etc because they know they will be there for a very long time.

It is possible for Gatineau residents to use walk-ins in Ottawa (the Appletree clinics advertise their services here). You have to pay, though, and QC only reimburses part of the cost.

I have half-jokingly suggested to my missus that if I need to use the local ER for something not life-threatening, she should take a piece of sandpaper to my forehead, so I can pretend I have a head injury.

I thought this was going to be about the Silverstone Grand Prix moving to Vancouver.

Live on Cortes island, we need you...

If you're like most and are finally fed up with the yob infested, anti-liberty and permissiveness cesspool that the UK has become, then I'd suggest Abbotsford or Chilliwack.

Go wherever there is a fast track past the numerous licensing headaches would be my advice....