General practitioners (GPs) treat all common medical conditions and refer patients to hospitals and other medical services for urgent and specialist treatment.
Life as a GP
You’ll be part of a wider team that promotes, prevents and offers treatment. You’ll care for people with chronic illness and long-term conditions, aiming to keep them well and in their own homes.
A full-time working week usually comprises of eight sessions, which equates to four days. A typical day in the practice normally starts at around 8am when you’ll check paperwork before seeing patients. You’ll spend time with a mix of patients with a variety of health needs until late morning, either face-to-face or through a phone consultation. At the end of morning surgery, some GPs see extra patients who need to be seen urgently.
After morning appointments, you'll generally catch up on paperwork, and make any phone calls. After lunch you may visit patients in their homes or care homes. Once visits are complete, you’ll start your afternoon surgery, which might run from 3pm until 5.30pm. You may also provide evening and weekend appointments.
Many otherGPs are responsible for running their own practices either alone or in partnershipwithother GPs. This means they have the freedom to decidehow much to paythemselves and their employees, including anyGPsthey employ.
- communication skills
- aninterest in working with people
- the ability to work as part of a large team
- the willingness and ability to handle uncertainty and conflicting demands
- the ability to stay calm while working under pressure
- excellent organisational and time-management skills
- a willingness to developentrepreneurial and business skills
- good IT skills
- the ability to manage change
Entry requirements
Your first step is medical school. Typically, you’ll need excellent GCSEs and three A or A* passes at A level including chemistry for a five-year undergraduate degree in medicine. Many medical schools also ask for biology and others may require maths or physics.
If you already have a degree, you could study for a four-year postgraduate degree in medicine.
You’ll need to pass an interview and admissions test. You’ll be asked to show how you demonstrate the NHS values such as compassion and respect.
Some medical schools look to recruit a mix of students from different backgrounds and geographical areas, so your educational and economic background and family circ*mstances could be considered as part of your application.
How to become a GP
After medical school, you’ll join the paid two-year foundation programme where you’ll work in six placements in different settings.
After your foundation programme, you can apply for paid specialty training to become a GP which will take a minimum of three years.
You may be able to train part time, for example for health reasons or if you have family or caring responsibilities.
Where a career as a GP can take you
You could:
- specialise in areas such as sports medicine, adolescent health, diabetes or palliative medicine
- get involved in research at universities, the NHS or the private sector
- teach medical students or postgraduate doctors in training
FAQs
Nobody is going to force you to answer these questions, but we can't also fully help you if you if we don't ask them.
How to get answers at a hospital? ›
Use these suggestions to help:
- Be prepared. Keep a notebook in your room and write down questions as you think of them. ...
- Speak up if something is unclear or confusing. Let doctors and nurses know right away if there is something you do not understand. ...
- Keep asking until you understand. ...
- Ask questions about your medicines.
Common Questions Doctors Ask Patients
- What brings you in today?
- What are your symptoms?
- When did your symptoms start?
- Have your symptoms gotten better or worse?
- Do you have a family history of this?
- Have you had any procedures or major illnesses in the past 12 months?
Motivation to study medicine and genuine interest in the medical profession • Insight into your own strengths and weaknesses • The ability to reflect on your own work • Personal organisation • Academic ability • Problem solving • Ability to deal with uncertainty • Risk management and an ability to deal effectively with ...
What to do when doctors don't have answers? ›
If you ever feel you've hit a dead end, take your case to someone else. “Never be afraid to ask for a second opinion,” Dr. Adams says. “Good doctors encourage their patients to get the help they need.”
Is it OK to disagree with your doctor? ›
Sometimes patients disagree with their doctors. When that happens, getting a second opinion is always a good idea — and sometimes it's crucial, especially after a life-changing diagnosis, such as cancer.
Where can I get medical questions answers? ›
MedlinePlus is the health information website from the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Find guidance you can trust about medical conditions, treatments, testing, medications, and more.
Where can I find answers to clinical questions? ›
Selected Evidence-Based Sources of Medical Information
| Source | Comment | Web site |
|---|
| Cochrane Collaboration | Extensive database of systematic reviews and clinical trials. Excerpted monthly in AFP | http://www.cochrane.org |
| DynaMed | Subscription-based online textbook | http://dynamicmedical.com |
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What are the 6 most common patient complaints?
- Long wait times. After patient registration, how long are patients typically expected to wait before seeing doctors at your practice? ...
- Slow office response times. ...
- Lack of provider availability. ...
- Not enough time with the provider. ...
- A subpar checkout experience. ...
- Poor communication.
Questions to ask your doctor about your diagnosis
- What may have caused this condition? Will it be permanent?
- How is this condition treated or managed? What will be the long-term effects on my life?
- How can I learn more about my condition?
Can you get a full check up at the doctors? Yes — you can receive health checks your GP surgery, local pharmacy, or even your local library or leisure centre. Find NHS health check locations in your area.
What are six 6 sample questions for a practice patient survey? ›
What should a patient satisfaction survey include?
- How were your interactions with the doctor and office staff? ...
- How was the wait time? ...
- Did you get enough time with the doctor? ...
- How easy was it to schedule an appointment? ...
- What else do you want us to know? ...
- How do you improve your practice and the patient experience?
Here are 5 signs to look for in a good doctor:
- You get to finish your sentences. ...
- They ask the right questions. ...
- They acknowledge your knowledge. ...
- They let you be part of the decisions. ...
- They don't give up when one test comes back normal.
STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result and it's a technique you can use to not only strengthen your answers but create a narrative and structure as well. We recommend the STAR interview method to candidates who want to tailor direct and concise answers to impress interviewers.
What is your biggest weakness medicine interview? ›
The key to any negative question is turning it into a positive and showing that you possess the skill of reflective practice. So you need to also talk about how you are addressing, or are planning to address, the weakness. It should also be a genuine weakness. Working too hard, for example, is not really a weakness.
Do I have to tell my doctor everything? ›
To provide the best care, your doctor must understand you as a person and know what your life is like. The doctor may ask about where you live, what you eat, how you sleep, what you do each day, what activities you enjoy, what your sex life is like, and if you smoke or drink. Be open and honest with your doctor.
Can you ask your doctor not to touch you? ›
Often, the physical exam is important for the physician to make the right diagnosis. While you are always able to completely refuse any recommendation, there may be ways your doctor can make the experience more comfortable to ensure you're getting the best assessment possible.
Can my doctor refuse to see me? ›
Doctors in private practice operate as private businesses who can, like all other businesses, refuse service to anyone they want, for almost any reason they want. Common reasons for refusal include: If the doctor feels the patient's condition is beyond their scope of practice or outside their ability to safely treat.
Can your doctor ask you out? ›
A physician must terminate the patient-physician relationship before initiating a dating, romantic, or sexual relationship with a patient. Likewise, sexual or romantic relationships between a physician and a former patient may be unduly influenced by the previous physician-patient relationship.
