Consultant Anaesthetist - Northern Ontario - Picturesque Location

A regional hospital in Northern Ontario is hiring UK-trained Consultant Anaesthetists to join a close-knit department serving a wide catchment area. You'll have real autonomy, a varied case mix and the respect that comes with being a key part of a regional service.

If you love the outdoors, this is hard to beat. Think lakes, forests and four proper seasons, with short commutes, affordable housing and some of the most generous incentive packages in the province for doctors who commit to the north.

Why Ontario is recruiting UK Consultants

Ontario's hospitals are actively looking for UK-trained Consultant Anaesthetists. UK training is recognised and highly regarded, and the province has a licensing route designed specifically for doctors from approved jurisdictions like the UK, so you don't need to retrain or sit Canadian exams to practise.

We work with a number of Ontario hospitals, so even if this role isn't quite right, we can talk you through other options across the province.

Licensing: the approved jurisdiction pathway

To practise in Ontario you'll need to register with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), the provincial equivalent of the GMC. The good news is that the UK is one of a small number of "approved jurisdictions", meaning Canada recognises UK specialist training as comparable to its own.

In practice, this means Consultants who hold a CCT in Anaesthetics (or equivalent specialist registration) and the FRCA can apply to the CPSO without sitting the Royal College of Canada exams. The Royal College first reviews your training, then you apply directly to the CPSO, who will issue an initial licence that typically includes a short period of practice assessment before you move to fuller independent practice.

You'll need your primary medical qualification, CCT and FRCA certificates, a Certificate of Good Standing from the GMC, references and evidence of recent practice. It sounds daunting, but it's a well-trodden path and we'll guide you through every step, including work permit and immigration support, which run alongside licensing.

Pay: what fee-for-service means for you

Indicative earnings: CAD$450,000 to $500,000 per year.

Most Ontario anaesthetists are paid on a fee-for-service basis rather than a fixed salary. Put simply, you're paid for the work you do, so a full list is directly rewarded and your earnings reflect your effort rather than a pay band.

Combined with more control over your weekly pattern, how many lists you take on and when you take leave, it's one of the biggest differences UK Consultants notice when they make the move.

Additional incentives

Relocation stipends or signing bonuses of up to CAD$25,000 are sometimes offered, usually tied to a two to three year commitment.

Ontario has also introduced a daily stipend on top of fee-for-service for anaesthetists covering scheduled weekday lists in public hospitals, worth up to CAD$440 a day for a full eight-hour day. On-call is paid separately through the province's Hospital On-Call Coverage programme, typically several hundred dollars per 24-hour call shift on top of your billings.

Hospitals in Northern Ontario can also offer additional recruitment and retention incentives for doctors who commit to practising in the north.

After 12 months of skilled work in Canada, you can apply for permanent residence through the Canadian Experience Class, so this can be a long-term move for you and your family, not just a contract.

How to apply

To find out more, send your CV to Daniel Knowles at BDI Resourcing for a confidential conversation.