First5 (C&W) GP Network

Royal College of Practitioners (RCGP)

We are the professional membership body for GPs in the UK. Our purpose is to encourage, foster and maintain the highest possible standards in general medical practice. We support GPs through all stages of their career, from medical students considering general practice, through to training, qualified years and retirement.

Learn More – www.rcgp.org.uk/

British Medical Association

The BMA is the professional association and trade union for doctors in the UK. The BMA offers step-by-step guidance, FAQs and tools on the topics you face on a day-to-day basis as a GP, including CPD and leadership courses.

Learn More – www.bma.org.uk/

NHS Leadership Academy

The NHS Leadership Academy’s philosophy is simple – great leadership development improves leadership behaviours and skills.

Better leadership leads to better patient care, experience and outcomes.

Learn More – www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/

After completing your final ARCP it is then possible to apply for CCT via your RCGP portfolio.

It is then important to apply for both the GMC GP Register and The Performers List.

• GMC GP Register: apply via your GMC online account. You have to pay for CCT (approximately £420) and then you will receive a certificate.
• National Performers List: All GPs must be on the NPL. This is done via PCSE online. The information takes many months to update but DO NOT worry, as long as you have applied for the changes you can still work.

CVs

• Important to have a good quality, up-to-date CV ready to apply for jobs
• Provide a cover letter specific to each job you apply for
• If you are an academic GP, it is important to also have an academic CV
• The BMA provides some useful advice and example CVs here

In April 2019, following extensive BMA lobbying and contract negotiations, state-backed GP indemnity schemes were launched in England (Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice – CNSGP) and Wales (General Medical Practice Indemnity – GMPI).

This removed the need for GPs to arrange and fund their own clinical negligence cover. All GPs and their staff will automatically be covered by the schemes if they are providing NHS services. No individual payments from GPs or their staff are required.

What does the state backed scheme cover?

• GP contractors and their staff, including salaried GPs, locums, students and trainees, nurses, clinical pharmacists and other practice staff
• Any clinical negligence liabilities arising in general practice in relation to incidents that occur on or after 1 April 2019
• All NHS commissioned work, including out-of-hours

What doesn’t the state backed scheme cover?

• Non-NHS work, such as private practice and chargeable services such as medicals, reports and statements will not be covered by the scheme
• GMC hearings and criminal cases will not be covered by the scheme. You will need to remain a member of a medical defence organisation for these areas

Your Doctors bag will likely need to include the following items:

After accepting your first job, it is good practice to arrange an induction to enable a smooth first day. Questions you may want to ask include:

Policies and Procedures

• Do they have an induction locum pack?
• How does the practice do referrals, letters, arrange investigations?
• How are results/tasks and QOF organised/delegated?
• What is the main method of communication – emails, screen messages, Microsoft Teams etc.

Building

• Security codes
• Car parking
• Emergency bag and equipment – where it is and what’s in it?
• Emergency telephone number to contact the practice (e.g. if you are running late or unable to attend work)

Room

• Panic button
• Useful telephone numbers
• Equipment – do you have everything you need? Is it working?

IT Systems

• Which system and how to use it
• How to do referrals / imaging or blood test requests

You can use any of the GMC approved electronic appraisal programmes e.g. Clarity or Fourteen Fish. Some practices may fund the cost of this. All programmes have apps so that you can upload notes and reflections in real time, helping you keep up to date with your entries. Please ensure you use GMC approved MSF and PSQ toolkits.

Appraisal and Revalidation

It is a requirement to undertake an annual appraisal. You will, usually, keep the same appraiser for three years (three appraisals) and you will have a 5 yearly revalidation, where all your appraisals will be taken into account by a responsible officer. This usually happens automatically and you will get a letter confirming that you have been revalidated.

You will receive an email from the revalidation team, normally within 3-4 months post-CCT, with an appraisal month and appraiser details.

Appraisals are usually conducted virtually and will last around 2 hours. Preparation for your appraisal should take no longer than 2 hours of your time.

This page will showcase case studies of GPs from various GP pathways, including Academic, Locum, Salaried, and Portfolio GPs. See more here.