Jared Green

Jared Green - SpR Podiatric Surgery

Jared is an internationally-qualified podiatrist from South Africa who progressed through post-graduate training and study in Podiatric Surgery in the UK.

Motivation to study or work in the UK

I qualified as a podiatrist in South Africa in 1999. I planned to travel the world using the UK as my base and progressed my skillset and training in the UK to my current post as a Specialist Registrar in Podiatric Surgery.

Differences in training between South Africa and the UK

It is over 20+ years since qualifying and since arriving in the UK. I carried out my undergraduate training in South Africa, which was to a good level. For the first two years we shared lectures with our medical counterparts, and we had hospital rotations with orthopaedics and in A&E.

As I progressed through post graduate training in the UK, I found that the UK training was far superior. Podiatric surgery is a great asset for the podiatry profession and unfortunately this is not offered in South Africa…. yet.

I undertook my post graduate training (MSc) in the UK. Overall, the experience has been very good. Throughout my training, lecturers, university administrators and NHS consultants have always been eager to help and willing to impart knowledge. Indeed, many consultants give their spare time freely to help with learning.

Career opportunities

There are greater career opportunities both in the private and public health sectors in the UK. Podiatry within the public health sector is well established in the UK, and subsequently there is greater scope to further your career and enhance your skills and training.

Working and studying in the UK challenges and barriers

Concening studying, I found that I needed to improve my use of the English language, improving the expression of thought as well as precision and articulation of ideas. I have found although we share a common language, understanding is not always guaranteed. I have also found the need to alter my tone and body language when talking as it can often be misconstrued as aggressive or arrogant where no such intention is implied. This I believe is more of a cultural difference and one I have had to adapt to.

Securing work in the UK

I have never had a problem securing work. The interviews have always been straightforward, and I have never felt them to be unfair or biased. Interview technique is similar internationally in my opinion, I feel you should know the organisation, know the job description and requirements, and try to get a feel of the corporate culture.

I advise any international podiatrist coming to the UK to Locum for the NHS first. You get to meet a lot of people, work for different trusts and make good contacts and friends. You also get a good understanding of care requirements, working in the NHS and are often invited to learning events.

Life in the UK

I have been lucky in making good friends, having a family, settling well in the UK and have had a satisfying career so far.

Scope, MDT working and advancing practice within the NHS

Since my time in the UK, I have developed contacts and shadowed in clinics including haematology, rheumatology, orthopaedics, diabetic clinics, radiology, pain clinics, anaesthesiology, physiotherapy, tissue viability even doing joint home visits with district nursing. This I feel has made me a well-rounded clinician. However, I love the MSK side of podiatry, and I was lucky to have been given a locum post at the beginning in MSK. I was able to learn and hone my skill which naturally led me to want to pursue surgical training.

Since then, my MDT work involves working alongside diabetes and MSK teams and medics and a range of AHPs. I feel this is a strength of working in the UK with access to this range of professionals, their knowledge, access to surgical training and progression opportunities with training and education.

NHS support, pensions and training opportunities in the UK

The NHS pension is very good as the government covers the short fall regardless of market activities. Training opportunities have been freely available when requested however I was doing a lot of locum work at the beginning of my surgical training and so most of my surgical training was self-funded. Nevertheless, even as a locum I was often offered training opportunities in the NHS for which I am very grateful.

Long-term goals

I would like to gain my consultancy in the NHS and “give back” with training, support and mentoring. I would also like to take my experience back home to South Africa and help under privilege communities.