Leaving a High-Pressure Career Behind
“I can’t even fathom how I managed through that time. I definitely don’t want to go back to that,” reflects Kai Fong, an Auckland father and grandfather who is among many this decade moving on from intense careers that consumed much of their lives.
Healthcare Sector Struggles
The healthcare sector was already facing workforce shortages prior to the exhausting Covid-19 pandemic. A briefing from Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora in January indicated a shortage of nearly 500 GPs, a number that may double in the next decade.
Systemic Exhaustion
Kai Fong expressed that it’s not just the intense pressure of treating critically ill patients that weighs down healthcare workers; the entire system can be overwhelming. “With every government change, they alter the system without finding a lasting solution. They prioritize management and finances. If something has been underfunded by 10-20% each year, what can you expect?” he noted.
A Career Change
Kai Fong had aimed to maintain his career until winter 2022 but decided to leave medicine in February 2021. His experience spanned many roles, including city and rural GP, urgent care clinic operator, and urgent care physician at Shore Care in Auckland. He described the winter of 2020 as horrendous, with GPs unwilling to treat Covid patients and no vaccines available.
Seeking New Opportunities
Feeling unsupported and burdened by patient complaints, Kai Fong chose to leave the profession when the costs of renewing his practice certificates added up to about $6000 annually. He expressed, “By the end, I felt that my work was no longer valued… I was completely burnt out.”
A Fresh Start
After considering various jobs, including becoming a postman, Kai Fong is currently enjoying his role as a truck driver for GilesCivil. He appreciates the reduced hours and the fact that he now receives benefits like paid time off and medical insurance, which were unavailable to him as a doctor. “Driving a truck is just plain fun,” he said, contrasting his current job to his previous career.
Future Aspirations
Although he enjoys his work, Kai Fong plans to retire at 65 to pursue other passions, such as cartooning and field archery. Living in a van, intended as his retirement home, he dreams of a free life by the beach, indicating a shift from the stress of his past profession to a more fulfilling lifestyle ahead.
