Being a doctor is probably one of the most well-respected professions in history. It is associated with a well-educated and well-trained person who has dedicated themselves to a life of service. Since being a doctor is something that a person can do anywhere in the world, it gives them the potential to go anywhere they want to earn a living. That said, it is safe to say that those who decided to become a doctor a few years ago hadn’t anticipated that the world would be facing a global pandemic. Medical professionals are now emergency workers looking to protect the lives of others and their own.

How has the pandemic changed how healthcare is administered?

The pandemic has changed healthcare in various ways. Due to safety issues and the use of technology, things have significantly changed.

Virtual care

Since the coronavirus forced many people to stay at home, it became increasingly difficult to visit a GP. As a solution, virtual care options were introduced. Medical professionals can now offer consultations remotely through an app or NHS-approved tools and address their patients’ concerns by phone, video chat, or online consultations.

Information sharing

Technology has made it easier for healthcare professionals to communicate with one another. Whether it is video calls, direct audio, or instant messaging, the lines of communication between healthcare workers and their colleagues have become more sophisticated.

Awareness and promotion of public safety

The public became very aware of health and safety issues as a result of the pandemic. It showed just how important it is to take precautions to stay safe and healthy. Hopefully, this has caused many citizens to develop good habits, even after the pandemic, and has potentially made the job of those working in the medical field easier.

Pay rise in the UK and globally

Another trend that we see in the medical field is the salary increase of medical care professionals. This is a global phenomenon. It has translated into a 3% pay rise that nurses and other NHS workers were offered in England and Wales.

University applications for medicine have increased

A record number of students have applied to medical schools since the outbreak of the pandemic, and their interest in working in the medical field has increased immensely. According to UCAS, the number of students who sent in applications to study medicine increased by 21%, leading to a large number of rejections. The number of new nursing students who will begin training in the next few months is expected to be 26,730 in total, which means that there has been an 8% increase compared to the previous year.

The rise in new university applications is so high that some medical schools have even started to reward students if they choose a different course at another university. In some cases, the compensation offered is as high as £10,000.

Potential downsides of a career in medicine

With all the current advances in technology and medicine mentioned above, one of the downsides is the pandemic’s stress on the medical care community. This can lead to medical negligence claims and work-related burnout and stress. Hopefully, this will not discourage people from developing careers in the medical field.

So, will the pandemic inspire more people to join the legions of doctors worldwide, or has it alerted them to the potential dangers that now go along with being a doctor? Time is the only thing that will tell us which one of these is true.