General Practitioner

Also known as:

Family Doctor
GP

Introduction

General practitioners (GPs) use their medical knowledge to assess, diagnose and treat patients in the local community. Initial training takes five years, followed by a 2 year foundation programme and three years of specialist training for general practice work. Entry to training is very competitive.

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Work Activities

General practitioners (GPs) provide medical advice and treatment to people living in the local area.

During surgery opening times, GPs see patients on a one-to-one basis in most cases. Most patients book an appointment in advance. The patients may be any age and have any condition, illness or injury that needs medical attention.

GPs listen carefully as patients describe their symptoms. They might need to ask some questions to understand what is wrong. They might also examine patients if necessary, which also helps in their diagnosis.

Sometimes, GPs have to refer patients to a hospital specialist if they think they need further assessment.

Once a diagnosis has been made, GPs may give patients a prescription with instructions on how to take it. They may also suggest a follow-up to check on progress. GPs also give advice on health and fitness (eg diet and exercise) in order to prevent problems developing in the future. Occasionally, GPs perform minor operations in the surgery.

Out of surgery times, GPs make phone calls, write reports on patients and do any other paper work. They also keep up to date with current medical developments by reading journals and attending conferences.

GPs are usually on an on-call rota, when they may have to go and visit a patient at their home. In rural areas, this may involve a lot of driving. They may have to work outwith surgery hours.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You must be able to listen carefully to patients and skilfully ask the right questions to get all the information you need in a short amount of time.

You will need a broad knowledge of medicine as well as the ability to learn new scientific and technical developments on an ongoing basis. This requires considerable mental stamina.

You also need practical skills and a steady hand in order to examine, assess and possibly perform minor operations on patients.

Good writing skills will help you in your report and letter writing. IT skills are increasingly important.

If you work in a health centre, you will need good co-operation and communication skills to work with the other GPs, nurses and administration staff.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are for general practitioners (GPs) working in the National Health Service (NHS). The rates are approximate.

Earnings for self-employed GPs vary depending on the size of the practice and the services they provide. Broadly, self-employed GPs earn around £80,000 - £120,000 a year.

Employed GPs earn £50,000 - £76,000 a year. These figures can vary depending on the Primary Care Trust that employs them, and the services they are expected to provide.

GPs work around fifty hours a week. Hours are usually divided between morning and afternoon/evening surgery. Some GPs choose to do out of hours duties.

There are GPs in towns and cities throughout the country. However, there is currently a shortage of new entrants.

While most GPs are self-employed, increasingly, they are choosing to be employed by Primary Care Trusts.

A small number of GPs work in the armed forces. There may be opportunities to work in other countries, especially in Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia. Some GPs work with voluntary organisations overseas.

Some GPs earn extra income from writing articles or from part-time work, such as providing medical advice to a company.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

If you do not have the usual academic qualifications needed for a degree in medicine course, you might be able to enter the course through: An Access to Medicine course. A 'pre-medical' or 'foundation' year, if you do not have science A levels.

Graduates with related degrees can be accepted for medicine degree courses. Some medical schools accept arts or humanities graduates.

Shortened or fast-track medical degrees, usually lasting four years, also exist for graduates. You would usually need a relevant first degree, eg, in a science subject, although some universities accept graduates in any subject.

• 60% of GPs are self-employed.
• 15% work part-time.
• 3% have flexible hours.
• 18% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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