GP Journeys: From Cardiff, Wales to Perth, WA

GP Journeys: From Cardiff, Wales to Perth, WA

After more than two decades working in UK general practice, including 15 years running his own practice, Dr Nisal Jayasinghe was ready for a change.

Originally from Sri Lanka, Nisal’s medical career has taken him across different specialties, countries and healthcare systems. Now, he has begun his next chapter in Perth, Western Australia, a move that brings together a new professional opportunity, a different pace of life and the chance to be closer to family.

A medical career spanning more than three decades

Nisal graduated from medical school in Sri Lanka in 1990 and spent the first decade of his career gaining experience across a broad range of specialties, including general medicine, emergency medicine, oncology, radiology and psychiatry.

As his career progressed, he found himself increasingly drawn to family medicine.

In 2001, he completed a full-time postgraduate Diploma in Family Medicine before making another significant move, relocating with his wife and two young daughters to the United Kingdom.

Initially working in hospital medicine, including cardiology and psychiatry, Nisal soon decided that general practice was where he wanted to build his long-term career.

He commenced GP training in 2002, completing his training in early 2006.

Supporting communities that needed GPs most

After completing his GP training, Nisal took on a role supporting practices within some of the more rural and socially disadvantaged communities in Wales.

Many of the practices were experiencing ongoing recruitment challenges, and Nisal worked alongside them to strengthen areas such as chronic disease management and improve continuity of care.

He remained in the role for around seven years before becoming a GP Partner in a practice caring for approximately 6,000 patients.

Not long afterwards, circumstances changed and Nisal found himself effectively running the practice single-handedly.

Recruiting permanent GPs was challenging, and while locums and salaried GPs provided support at different times, maintaining a consistent workforce was difficult. Nisal adapted by building a broader clinical team, including introducing clinical and prescribing pharmacist support.

He went on to run the practice for around 15 years.

It was an incredibly rewarding period of his career, but also an intense one.

“I used to do on-calls almost every day. Even if I finished my work, I would go home and worry about patients and use the remote access computer to do things I couldn't finish in the practice. It was relentless.”

Eventually, Nisal began thinking about what he wanted the next stage of his life and career to look like.

Why Australia?

Australia had been on Nisal’s radar for some time.

Several friends from the UK had already made the move and spoke positively about their experience working as GPs in Australia. One close friend in New South Wales had regularly encouraged him to consider doing the same.

After retiring from the NHS, the idea began to feel increasingly possible.

“I was keen to explore it,” Nisal says. “I thought I would give it a try for a couple of years and see how it works out.”

There was also an important personal reason to choose Western Australia.

Nisal’s wife has three siblings living in Perth, and her mother is currently there with family. With their own two daughters now doctors themselves, living and working independently in the UK, the timing felt right for Nisal and his wife to consider their own next adventure.

Perth offered the opportunity to experience life and general practice in Australia while also spending valuable time closer to family.

Finding a pathway to Australia

Nisal’s move began when he connected with Nethmi from DXC Medical Recruitment.

After learning more about his background and his interest in Australia, Nethmi introduced him to DXC’s WA GP Recruitment Consultant, Adelene, who began helping Nisal navigate his options.

For Nisal, the process wasn’t necessarily straightforward.

Having originally completed his MRCGP before August 2007, he wasn’t eligible for the Expedited Specialist Pathway, meaning his journey was different to that of many UK-trained GPs relocating to Australia today.

While there was an expectation that his assessment may result in a Partially Comparable outcome, after reviewing the circumstances surrounding his training and qualifications, the DXC team was confident that his experience supported a Substantially Comparable outcome.

That confidence was ultimately confirmed when Nisal received his Substantially Comparable assessment, an important milestone that allowed his plans for Australia to move forward.

At the same time, there was another major consideration back in the UK.

After so many years running his practice, Nisal wanted to make sure he left it in good hands. Fortunately, two salaried GPs who had been working part-time within the practice expressed an interest in taking over.

The timing couldn’t have been better.

It gave Nisal confidence that he could step away from the practice he had dedicated so much of his career to and focus on what came next.

A new chapter in Perth

Nisal has now arrived in Perth and is settling into life in Western Australia.

After decades of responsibility for a busy UK practice, he is looking forward to experiencing a different side of general practice, and having more time outside of work.

“I’m happy to be here and excited to be here,” he says. “I’m enjoying the weather, the country and the friendly people. Hopefully this will be a good chapter in my life.”

For now, Nisal is embracing the change, spending time with family and looking forward to discovering more of Western Australia.

After a medical career that has already taken him from Sri Lanka to the UK and now Australia, it is another significant move, but one Nisal is excited to make.

And after many years of carrying the responsibilities that come with running a practice and caring for thousands of patients, perhaps one of the things he is looking forward to most is a little more freedom.

As Nisal puts it:

“I am happy to be a free man now.”

Thinking about your own GP journey to Australia?

Every GP’s journey to Australia is different.

Whether you are beginning to explore the idea or are already working through registration, pathways and relocation, the DXC Medical Recruitment team can help you understand your options and what the move could look like for you.

Our International GP Recruitment team supports doctors throughout the process, from finding the right practice and location through to registration, visa requirements, onboarding and relocation.

Considering the next chapter of your GP career in Australia? Get in touch with the DXC Medical Recruitment team.

Contact:
Adelene Chew
Senior Consultant
DXC Medical Perth
+61 430 037 389
adelene.chew@dxcmedical.com.au