Family man can see his children

One French GP felt he had to move to London because long working hours meant he never saw his family.

Dr Yann Le Feuvri worked 13- to 14-hour days and with his wife Nolwenn also a GP in Brittany, their newborn baby was being brought up by his grandmother.

Dr Le Feuvri, 36, said that because all French GPs had to provide out-of-hours services, they were left with little time as a family.

Since they moved to London almost three years ago, they have bought a house in Greenwich, have had another child and are expecting a third in November.

Dr Le Feuvri is now a partner in a practice in Plumstead and his wife works as a GP.

He said: "Now we have got the choice of doing out-of-hours work or not.

"We still work reasonably long hours but once you get home, that is the day over. In France you could be working until 9pm - and if there was a big flu outbreak you could be doing visits until midnight.

"The system over here is better organised and there is time for you to learn and progress."

The doctor added: "My wife wants to stay her whole career but I can't think that far ahead. We will certainly stay another five or so years."