Becoming a GP
General practitioners (GPs) are the first point of contact for most NHS patients. They deal with acute illness, preventable illness and chronic disease management. Working as a GP differs greatly from working in a hospital as you have to make a clinical diagnosis and work on a hypothesis rather than having results of investigations to work from. You have to make complex decisions in a short period of time, since the average consultation period is around eight minutes – it’s a real intellectual challenge, you don’t know what will be coming through the door next. It can be tough as a junior doctor but is ultimately rewarding.
A typical day involves arriving at work at 9.00 am for a four-hour morning session, consisting of surgery followed by home visits and paperwork. The afternoon session begins at 3.00 pm and lasts until 6.30 pm. In addition to surgery-based tasks, GPs also attend team meetings, either with other members of the practice or with GPs within the health authority. The number of home visits varies depending on the location of your practice – for example, you would expect more working in a rural practice or in an area with an aging population. A full-time GP will work nine sessions a week and most practices will not insist on you being on call, but if you do choose to be on call, you would be expected to cover four to six hours on a weekly or fortnightly basis.
Key skills and aptitudes
To be a general practitioner, you have to understand and enjoy all aspects of people and be able to cope with individuals of all ages. Being able to think on your feet is vital when required to make a quick diagnosis. The computer system for GPs is a lot more advanced than in any other area of the NHS and you can locate medical records within seconds but you need to have good computer skills to be able to use it.
Training and competition
There is currently a shortage of GPs in many areas so there isn’t a great deal of competition. However, some locations are more popular than others – it’s best to check with the deanery when applying. Competition may rise as pay and conditions have improved, with wide scope for part-time work and salary increases to match the salary of hospital consultants.
Best and worst
There is a great deal of flexibility in general practice, with the option of working part time. This is particularly useful if you have family commitments. You also get a great deal of job satisfaction and can implement new ideas with ease, as you effectively work for yourself. The administration and paperwork can be a lot to deal with and while it is liberating owning your own business, if you come to sell your practice at a bad time, you may end up with negative equity if you own premises. Most new GPs like to rent their premises.
The future of general practice
The role of the GP is set to change, with GPs taking on more responsibility and specialising in areas such as chronic disease management, diabetes, dermatology or minor surgery. There is already the option of specialising and if you wish to do so, training for this usually lasts for about nine months. GPs will also see higher complexity patients as nurses handle those with minor illnesses. There will be greater control for GPs over their own budgets so that they can make sure it is being used in the most effective way possible for the needs of their practices. Teams are becoming bigger along with practices, so GPs will consult with a wider variety of healthcare professionals.
Key information resources
- Royal College of General Practitioners
- Medical news and resources
- Deanery websites are also a useful source of information and specifics on working in a certain area.
