Dr. Katie Sanderson, 33, made the life-altering decision to walk away from her secure career as an NHS GP, a profession she once loved. Feeling burned out, financially strained, and ultimately betrayed by the health service she dedicated herself to, she has embarked on a radically different path: full-time van life.
The catalyst was a profound sense of disillusionment. Dr. Sanderson describes feeling 'completely shafted' by the NHS, a system grappling with immense pressure that often leaves its staff overworked and underappreciated. The relentless workload, combined with the UK's spiralling cost of living, created a perfect storm of professional and personal stress.
'I felt like I was on a hamster wheel,' she confessed, highlighting the unsustainable pace and the emotional toll of the job. The rising household bills on a static salary meant the financial rewards no longer matched the immense responsibility and sacrifices required.
Her solution was both drastic and liberating. Dr. Sanderson made the bold choice to sell her house, severing her biggest monthly expense and tying financial anchor. With the proceeds, she purchased and meticulously converted a Renault Master van into a fully-functional mobile home, complete with a kitchen, seating area, and a comfortable sleeping space.
Now, her life looks entirely different. Instead of clinic rooms and paperwork, her days are filled with the freedom of the open road. 'I wake up and I can see the sea, or I'm in the mountains, or in a forest,' she says, embracing a minimalist lifestyle that prioritises wellbeing over wealth.
While her story is one of empowerment and escape, it also serves as a stark warning about the deepening crisis within the NHS. Dr. Sanderson's departure represents another skilled professional lost to a system struggling to retain its workforce, raising serious questions about staff welfare and the future of healthcare in Britain.
