A DOCTOR is gearing up to swap his practice in Wythenshawe for a hospital in Uganda this summer.

Father-of-two Steve Moore, from Wilmslow, will spend the first two weeks of June at a small hospital in Gulu which is linked with Wythenshawe Hospital.

Several Ugandan doctors have worked at the Manchester hospital through the partnership, and Steve, 51, believes he will return from Uganda with a fresh outlook on his profession.

“I think it’s going to make me realise how lucky we are in the UK to have the NHS,” he told the Guardian.

“They have extremely limited medical resources in Uganda.

“The NHS is a fantastic thing, and to go somewhere else that has so little in comparison is going to be a real eye opener for me.

“I think it will make appreciate what we have here even more – I will come back and think completely differently.”

Gulu is the economic capital of Uganda, with a population of more than 150,000 and a university which was established in 2003.

Steve, who has never been to Africa, believes he will learn a lot while working in a new environment.

“I wanted to spend some time doing something completely different,” Steve added.

“I’ve been asked to do some teaching for medical students there, and I’ve worked in A&E before so I think I’ll be helping out in that department.

“Obviously I’ll be away for two weeks, but my family have been very supportive and encouraging about it.”

With the entire trip set to be self-funded, Steve now needs to raise as much of £600 as he can before setting off for Uganda in less than two months.

A crowdfunding web page has been set up to kick off the fundraising, while Steve is also considering other ways to raise the money before June.

To find out more or donate, visit crowdfunder.co.uk/operation-uganda