Brought to you by the RCGP, the GP+ Careers podcast, hosted by Dr Sophie Lumley aims to showcase the breadth and diversity of careers you can develop as a GP.
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In this month's episode we are pleased to be joined by Dr Will Evans, a salaried GP in Leeds and as a GP with a special interest in Genetics with the Yorkshire regional genetic service. Will tells Sophie how he got into the field, what his typical work week looks like, benefits of the role and how you can get involved in Genomics within primary care.
Top tips
Explore the world of Genomics - There are several great resources to familiarise yourself with Genomics. Will recommends looking at Health Education England (HEE) website for genomics educational resources particularly the GeNotes resource. Other excellent resources include the RCGP Genomics Toolkit
Join the Primary Care Special Interest Group - if you are interested in finding out more about how you can be involved with Genomics, Will recommends joining the Primary Care Interest Group that Will is a member of. This has a number of GPs but also community pharmacists from across the country with differing interests and roles and is a great place to find out about opportunities and connect with like-minded peers
Carve a diverse career path - with the growing integration of genomics in healthcare, GPs with expertise in this area are likely to be in higher demand. There is a range of opportunities to work in specialized clinics, academic settings or policy-making roles related to genetics
Drive progress through Innovative Practice - Be part of the cutting edge of healthcare, applying the latest advancements in genetics to clinical practice. Will has been involved in several transformational projects such as improving care coordination of patients with rare genetic diagnoses as they transition from paediatric to adult services.
Set clear boundaries - like any special interest, when you are working in that area for one day for example, there can be a risk that work can fall in other days that you aren't doing that role. Will suggests that you define your week quite carefully and protect your time - set clear boundaries and stick to them for the best work-life balance.
Will works as a salaried GP in Leeds, and as a GP with a specialist interest in Genetics with the Yorkshire regional genetic service. He is the primary care lead for the North East and Yorkshire Genetic Medicine Service Alliance (GMSA).
Will is also an Honorary Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham. His research interests involve rare diseases, genomics in primary care, large data base analysis and precision medicine.
He is a trustee and former chairman of the rare disease charity Niemann-Pick UK.
Further reading
RCGP Genomics toolkit
https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/book/view.php?id=12892
GeNotes – quick concise information for healthcare professionals to make the right genomic decisions. Specific section for Primary care clinicians.
https://www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/genotes/
National genomic test directory- details what tests are available for what indication and who can request (NHS England)
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/national-genomic-test-directory-rare-and-inherited-disease-eligibility-criteria-v7.pdf
Embedding genomics across the NHS: a primary care perspective. – A review of genomics and its role and impact in primary care
https://doi.org/10.7861%2Ffhj.2023-0116
To find out more about the Primary Care Special Interest Group (SIG) in Genomics contact [email protected]
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21:32
6: GP+ Learning Disabilities with Dr Ayesha Mahmud
This month we are joined by Dr Ayesha Mahmud, a salaried GP, TPD, ICB lead and Faculty Education Lead with a special interest in Learning Disabilities and Autism. Ayesha describes how her GP career path changed due to her passion for advocating for patients with learning disabilities. She also outlines her achievements within this area of work and highlights of the role.
Top tips:
You can always change direction of travel – Ayesha previously had a background in minor surgery and changed to learning disabilities as it was a passion of hers with a personal meaning to drive change
Find your Tribe – Ayesha recommends exploring the RCGP Special Interest Group for Learning Disabilities where you can connect with those who share your special interest, expand your networks and opportunities and learn from each other
Raise awareness of your work – If you are working to improve the quality of patient care for those with learning disabilities, it is important to raise awareness of this as it can lead to more joined up thinking and improved patient outcomes
Expand your knowledge - Ayesha highly recommends the RCGP One Day Essentials courses for different topics which are now free to members to book
Small changes can be rewarding – Implementing small changes in your practice can be hugely beneficial to patients. Ayesha provides an example of this whereby her GP Practice has an alert system set up for a patient on the learning disability register, so the receptionist is notified and can try to make reasonable adjustments for them such as a longer appointment time.
Dr Ayesha Mahmud is a salaried GP, TPD, ICB lead and Faculty Education Lead. She has special interest in Learning Disabilities and Autism. She is deeply committed to enhancing the quality of care for individuals with Learning Disabilities and works actively to reduce health inequalities in healthcare system.
Further reading
Post graduate qualification
PGCert Learning Disability and/or Autism | Edge Hill
RCGP Special Interest Group for Learning Disabilities with contact and joining details
Learning disabilities group
RCGP One Day Essentials on Learning Disabilities - free to attend
RCGP One Day Essentials conferences
New to Practice fellowship schemes possibly available across different regions (check with your local commissioners about fellowship opportunities in their area)
New to Practice GP Fellowships
Regular webinars & meetings are held by British Institute for Learning Disabilities
Membership | bild
Palliative care planning for people with Learning Disabilities
End Of Life Care Planning | The Victoria And Stuart Project
Fairhealth
Free learning resources to help reduce Health Inequalities
Learning Disability Friendly Badge
Learning Disability Friendly Badge - Happy Healthy Lives
Ayesha’s awards - The Martin Wilkinson Award at RCGP Midland Faculty Award and the Highly Commended Best Collaborative Award at the RCGP Inspire Awards 2024
COVENTRY & WARWICKSHIRE LEARNING DISABILITY FRIENDLY BADGE RECOGNISED WITH TWO RCGP AWARDS - Happy Healthy Lives
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27:37
5: GP+ Undergraduate Medical Education with Dr Egbe Efefaroro
This month we hear from Dr Egbe Efefaroro, a GP who took up an interest in Undergraduate Medical Education at Keele University. Egbe talks to Sophie about her love for teaching her Year four medical students, how she got into the role and her advice for those interested in pursuing a career in this area.
Top tips:
Gain taster experience: Get involved with your local medical school for example as a casual tutor; personal development tutor; GP tutor for students assigned to your practice or volunteer as OSCE examiner. If interested, send an email to the medical school about any opportunities to get involved
It’s a win-win: You can learn a lot from teaching and interacting with students. Egbe says that this keeps her fresh and up to date with the latest guidelines which is also useful for her own learning and professional development. This in turn also benefits her patients in general practice which is a win-win!
Do I need additional qualifications? Egbe recommends obtaining a postgraduate degree in Medical Education i.e PgCert, PgDip or Masters - offered by various universities either in-situ or online, usually as a part time programme to allow learners to do it alongside their clinical work. Egbe did the one at Keele University.
Do a ‘Teach the Teachers’ course. This is a two-day course designed to help clinicians learn about educational concepts and techniques to deliver effective clinical teaching sessions. This is offered free by some universities for clinicians who have contact with their medical student
Become a role model: Inspire the next generation of doctors through your love of teaching and general practice. Share your interesting cases with your students, what surprised you? How did you deal with difficult situations? This may in turn inspire and encourage them to pursue a career in general practice. During a time of recruitment and retention crises in general practice this may help to future proof the profession.
Dr Egbe Efefaroro is a GP in Stoke-on-Trent and a Clinical Lecturer in Medical Education in the School of Medicine at Keele University Staffordshire.
Further reading
Teach the teachers course
https://teachthedrteacher.com/
Postgraduate Clinical Education - Keele University
www.keele.ac.uk/study/postgraduatestudy/postgraduatecourses/clinicaleducation/
In Practice fellowship
https://www.nihr.ac.uk/explore-nihr/academy-programmes/integrated-academictraining.htm#four
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15:12
4: GP+ Sexual Health with Dr Rachel Taylor
This week, Dr Sophie Lumley interviews Dr Rachel Taylor, a GP partner, Trainer, Appraiser and Mentor who works mainly as a GP but also in sexual health clinics. Rachel outlines her career journey, ideas of how to get into this area of work and her highlights of the role.
Top tips:
Consider the motivation for the role: Be very clear what your drivers are for taking on the additional role e.g. is it an area you have a passion for, is it to have more flexibility in your career or even increase your income? Once you have established your ‘why’ seek out the opportunities.
Embrace the flexibility: Your life can change over the years with family and career commitments but you can find a role to suit you. You may be able to pick up shifts in your local sexual health clinics to suit your schedule.
Increase your competence with a qualification: There are qualifications such as the DFSRH which fits very well with general practice with a very well resourced, accessible website and achievable qualification if you are already doing your GP training.
Start your search close to home: Not sure where to start? Rachel recommends contacting your local gynae clinics and offer to sit in and speak to the team about opportunities available. Most local sexual health services are run by public health which is another option to explore. You could also join webinars/events on sexual health and contact those who are teaching on it directly about opportunities or further study.
There may be funding available: If you want to gain expertise in sexual health ask your practice if they can fund you to train in fitting coils/implants, but you should also be prepared to fund yourself or do it in your own time. Another option for funding could be through a fellowship scheme. Sometimes bursaries are available which could be used to backfill some of your time or pay for you to go on courses and enable you to work elsewhere.
Dr Rachel Taylor is a GP Partner, Trainer, Appraiser and Mentor. She has a special interest in Sexual Health and is a DFSRH Faculty Trainer. She works mainly as a GP but has always worked in Sexual Health clinics to support her interest, clinical skills and awareness in this area.
Further reading
The Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare
https://www.fsrh.org/
RCGP Women's Health Library
https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/index.php?categoryid=57
RCGP Women's Health Toolkit
https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/book/view.php?id=12534
RCGP Gynaecology and Women's Health Hub
https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/view.php?id=772
FSRH Diploma
https://www.fsrh.org/education-and-training/diploma/
British Menopause Society
https://thebms.org.uk/
West Midlands Association for Contraception and Sexual Health
https://wmcash.org.uk/
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18:14
3: GP+ Frailty with Dr Alistair Robertson
In this episode we hear from Dr Alistair Robertson, a GP with a special interest in frailty speak to Dr Sophie Lumley about his experience of getting into this area of work, how to seek out opportunities in frailty if you want to get involved and his downsides and highlights of the role.
Top tips:
Make the most out of your networks - Seek out any hospital frailty teams or your GP practice the frailty lead. Don’t be afraid to speak to them to find out how to get involved, do some home visits or basic frailty or comprehensive geriatric assessments to familiarise yourself with the work
Upskill yourself – It's always helpful to increase your knowledge base on frailty by completing a diploma in geriatric medicine for example, but it’s not essential when starting out
Determine what sort of doctor do you want to be - find an area where you can be that doctor that you want to be. It's within every GP to go off and do these things as it's all the things you've learned coming into play that you excel at with our communication, working with other teams and being the hub for the care of the patient
Apply yourself – with frailty you don’t need to carry any separate medical skills that other doctors don’t have; it's just you maybe have a little bit more opportunity to apply what you do know
Endless learning opportunities – frailty is an area of work that is growing exponentially year on year due to an ageing population. You have a chance to learn from your team and your patients which is an exciting addition to the ‘day to day’ GP role.
Dr Alistair Robertson is a former EDM Record Producer who retrained as a doctor and went on to specialise as a frailty doctor, with a particular special interest in headaches on the side.
Further reading
RCGP GPwER in Frailty Framework
https://www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-extended-roles/purpose-of-frailty
Joining the dots: A blueprint for preventing and managing frailty in older people
https://www.bgs.org.uk/Blueprint
Podcast with learning resources on frailty and elderly care: https://thehearingaidpodcasts.org.uk/
Understanding how integrated care systems are supporting older people; case studies on integrated care
https://www.england.nhs.uk/integratedcare/resources/case-studies/integrated-care-in-action-older-peoples-care/
Diploma in geriatric medicine
https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/diploma-geriatric-medicine
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Brought to you by the RCGP, the GP+ Careers podcast, hosted by Dr Sophie Lumley aims to showcase the breadth and diversity of careers you can develop as a GP.
Dr Lumley interviews GPs who do their GP work alongside an extended role, special interest or extra responsibility. Each podcast is focused on a specific interest or role even if the GP has multiple.
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We'd love to hear your valuable feedback. Please take 2 minutes to complete the form (https://r1.dotdigital-pages.com/p/49LX-ZGI) .
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