Becoming the GP you want to be

General practice provides continuing person centred health and manage the widest range of health problems of and look after patients’ wellbeing throughout their lives:

• Providing both systematic and opportunistic health promotion
• Making accurate diagnoses and risk assessments
• Dealing with multi-morbidity
• Coordinating long-term care
• Physical, social and psychological aspects

Special interest

You may want to become GP with a Special Interest (GPwSI). These GPs supplement their role as an expert medical generalist by providing an additional service while still working in the community, this can include:

• Cardiology
• Dermatology
• Minor Surgery
• Mental Health
• Sexual Health

Portfolio Careers

GPs can move between many different roles and locations throughout their careers, and can build flexible working patterns around the needs of their patients as well as their personal lives. Working with our local Training Programme Directors, we are developing a Portfolio Career package which will offer GPs extended placement opportunities, whether that be in a community setting, at a hospice or in secondary care. Following the VTS scheme, we hope to offer a number of placements for GPs to consider. This will come with support and education.

GPs can have portfolio careers heading multidisciplinary teams, leading work in:

• Geriatrics
• Neurology
• In-reach
• Hospitals
• Outreach to patients homes

Educational Support

To adapt to new ways of providing patient care, GPs will continue to develop their skills and their roles after completing their training. You may do extra training to become a GP with a special interest, and build expertise in areas most relevant for their given community. This could cover conditions such as: 

• Dementia
• Diabetes
• Drugs misuse
• Child protection
• Leadership
• Management

Teamwork and collaboration

You will work with multi disciplinary teams, in a range of practice and community settings, delivering continuing and comprehensive patient centred care. 

GPs don’t face the challenges of modern healthcare alone, they are increasingly working with and leading multi-disciplinary teams.

Innovation and leadership

GPs are integral in deciding how health and social services should be organised to deliver safe, effective and accessible care to patients in their communities.

GPs are already pioneering new ways of working. These roles present new medical challenges that require additional clinical skills and innovative ways of providing patient care. To meet the challenges of modern healthcare and long-term conditions and multi-morbidities increase, care is moving into the community. As a result, GPs are taking on new exciting roles both clinically and as leaders designing and managing services for patients.