The United Kingdom (UK) is one of the most sought-after destinations in the world! Many a doctor and nurse have dreamt of working for the prestigious National Health Service (NHS).
Currently, the UK is facing a shortage of healthcare professionals, especially doctors and nurses.
Researchers believe that there will be a shortfall of 108,000 nurses in the next 10 years. To plug the hole, the NHS would need to hire an additional 5,000 internationally trained nurses every year until 2024!
Want to be one of them? You might need to sit an English test before you can live and work in the UK. OET is the only English test that uses real-world healthcare scenarios. It’s the perfect test for doctors and nurses looking to move to the UK.
However, it’s not just a great choice for your career, it is also a fantastic country to live in too. Alongside the NHS, the UK is home to the Royal Family, fish and chips and more history than you can poke a stick at!
So, let’s take a closer look at why you should make the leap and move to the UK!
1. History
The UK is a union of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Each nation is unique and has a long, colourful history.
There is a wealth of history to explore throughout the regions that make up the UK. From ruins nestled in bustling cities to castles among snow-capped mountains, the UK has so many experiences just waiting for you.
You could be in Scotland sipping famous highland whiskies, in Wales taking in the panoramic views, in Northern Ireland visiting the sets where Game of Thrones was filmed or exploring England’s ancient ruins like Stonehenge.
2. Culture
The UK has a long history of migration and is a big believer in welcoming people from around the world!
Living in the UK then can be like travelling the world; only you don’t have to take a flight to enjoy another culture, you just need to take a walk down your main street.
There is so much to experience and explore. Whether you’re into food, dance, music or sports, you can experience it all – sometimes in a single suburb!
In England, for instance, you will find a considerable difference between the counties and towns, including accents and food.
3. Lifestyle
Living in the UK is known for its fantastic lifestyle.
As a very tolerant society, which doesn’t discriminate based on ethnicity, gender, religion, sexuality or disability, you can expect a happy lifestyle.
People from the UK believe that life is best spent doing the things you love. A key part of this is balancing a great day’s work with spending time with family and friends.
Take maternity leave, the UK has some of the best arrangements in the OECD. Maternity pay, for instance, can be paid for up to 39 weeks, which is significantly higher than other comparable nations such as Germany.
4. Safety and freedom
The UK is a stable democracy, with very little corruption. The Human Rights Act (1998) protects the people living in the UK by ensuring everyone is treated equally and with respect.
An OECD survey found that 78% of UK residents said they would feel safe walking alone at night, 10% higher than the OECD average.
Additionally, people living in the UK enjoy some of the highest levels of freedom in the world. According to the Cato Institute’s Human Freedom Index, the UK is ranked eighth for personal, civil and economic freedom!
5. Healthcare
Ever since the introduction of the NHS in 1948, the UK has worked hard to provide strong and reliable healthcare cover to everyone who needs it.
Measures of life expectancy and access to healthcare are high in the UK.
While the NHS is facing a shortage in key medical professionals, there are also working opportunities for international nurses and doctors.
As the only global healthcare English test, OET is perfect for all healthcare professionals looking to start their overseas career.
Let OET be your passport to the world: Apply to sit OET today.
Sources:
https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/closing-gap-health-care-workforce
https://www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave/pay
https://www.cato.org/human-freedom-index-new