**Former GP Swaps Surgery for a Life on the Road, Saying Stress of the Job ‘Was Going to Kill Him’**
A former general practitioner has made an extraordinary break from his high-pressure career, opting to sell most of his belongings and take to the open road in a campervan after finding the post-pandemic stresses of working for the NHS intolerable. Gary Grant, 47, decided to radically change his lifestyle when he realised the mounting demands of his profession had pushed him to breaking point.
After a separation from his wife in 2021, Grant was living alone and sharing parental responsibilities for his two young children, aged six and three. Having worked as a GP since 2008, he found the role’s patient-focused elements deeply satisfying. However, like many in the medical sector, Grant found the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic made an already demanding profession exponentially tougher.
As hospitals struggled with soaring waiting lists and backlog, primary care staff such as GPs were left handling increasingly complex cases on limited time. “I would return home every evening mentally and physically drained,” Grant explained. “The workload became relentless, and there were moments when I genuinely worried about the toll it was taking on my health.”
Feeling the weight of his daily routine bearing down, Grant reached a turning point—opting to leave his rented property in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, and sell his car, furniture, and most possessions. With proceeds from these sales, he purchased a converted minibus to serve as his mobile home. Grant has since chronicled his unconventional journey on social media, sharing moments from his travels with his children as well as solo adventures through destinations including Qatar, Greece, Turkey, and Bali.
“People might say it’s a midlife crisis, but for me, it’s been incredibly liberating,” he noted when speaking about his decision. Far from seeing his choice as reckless, Grant described a sense of ‘freedom’ and a firm belief that he would look back on his decision with no regrets. “Shortly, I’ll technically be homeless and jobless, but that idea just doesn’t scare me anymore. I feel free for the first time in years,” he added.
The Doctor-turned-traveller entered medicine almost by chance, describing the sector as constantly teetering on the edge of crisis. The personal connections he built with patients kept him motivated for years, but the pandemic changed the landscape of his work dramatically. With fewer doctors in the field, demand soared, and the range of issues faced in general practice widened as a result. He recalled days when he’d work long into the evening, often being the last to leave after the cleaner arrived.
In December 2024, Grant’s practice, recognising his fatigue, granted him some time away from work. He found the experience ‘rejuvenating,’ with his practice providing much support. Yet, the break offered perspective on what life could be like without the unrelenting demands. “I realised that I could choose to live differently,” said Grant, reflecting on the time off that ultimately led him to resign later that month.
Grant now lives simply—his minibus contains just the essentials, and he uses gym facilities wherever possible to wash and freshen up. He’s already travelled through several European nations with his children—including France, Switzerland, and Belgium—and further afield to places like Norway and East Timor. He is currently funding his travels from his savings and the proceeds of his sold belongings, with plans to seek remote work so he can continue his adventures.
Through sharing his journey on TikTok under the handle “doctorbinfire,” Grant has attracted thousands of supportive viewers. One viral video, in which he is seen sipping cocktails on a Balinese beach, has amassed over 200,000 views—a testament to the public’s curiosity about his new lifestyle.
His story has become one of transformation and rediscovery. “Being a doctor, you’re constantly exposed to the fragility of life,” Grant observed. “Now, I’m embracing the unknown, recognising that living freely is a choice. I honestly feel more content, and I’ve rediscovered parts of myself that had been lost to stress.”
For NHS professionals and others feeling the pressure of post-pandemic workloads, Grant’s recreation of his life on the road is a striking reminder of the value of self-care and the pursuit of happiness beyond conventional metrics of success. His journey continues as both a personal odyssey and an inspiration to others who may be contemplating their own fresh start.