Episodes

  • 14: GP+ Academic with Dr Tom Purchase

    14: GP+ Academic with Dr Tom Purchase
    Jun 16 2025
    In this episode, Sophie speaks with Dr Tom Purchase, a First5 GP and a Health and Care Research Wales NIHR Doctoral Fellow at Cardiff University. Tom describes his career journey into his doctoral fellowship, where to look and how to secure some funding opportunities, and the benefits of the role. Top tips Be Curious and ask questions - Tom’s journey began by simply asking a GP colleague what she was doing in her academic GP role. Don’t underestimate the power of curiosity and conversation, as most people are happy to share their experiences and may connect you with others or current projects. Seek early opportunities even without prior research experience - You don’t need formal research qualifications to start. Tom didn’t have any before his postgraduate certificate. He built experience by joining projects, showing interest, and asking how he could get involved. Take initiative and look for small roles on existing studies. Apply for small-scale research funding early on - Start small and go from there. Tom received a grant from the RCGP Scientific Foundation Board which is perfect for early-career GPs wanting to trial an idea. These short-term grants help you develop a track record and build your portfolio for larger funding later (e.g. NIHR , Health and Care Research Wales etc). Be Aware of the Challenges - The role is not without some challenges such as: Job security: Early academic roles are often fixed termFinancial hit (initially): Academic salaries may be lower than full-time clinical GP work.Juggling roles: You need flexibility and resilience to balance deadlines with clinical responsibilities and personal life. Appreciate the benefits – variety, impact and autonomy - Academic GP work brings a number of benefits such as: Variety: Every week can be different, for example, teaching, research, and conferences.Autonomy: You can shape your projects and personal development based on your interests.Wider impact: Your research can change policy or clinical practice nationally or globally. Tom’s experiences even led him to the WHO in Geneva—a unique opportunity to contribute to global health initiatives. Master organisation and time management -Academic work can involve different demands to clinical work, including project planning, literature reviews, participant recruitment, writing, and meeting deadlines.. Being organised and managing your own time becomes a crucial skill. Further reading: How RCGP support your research (including information on the Scientific Foundation Board): rcgp.org.uk/representing-you/research-at-rcgp/how-rcgp-support-your-research National Institute for Health and Care Research: nihr.ac.uk The Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC): sapc.ac.uk Primary Care Academic Collaborative (PACT): gppact.org Tom's fellowship project IncorporAting parental health aDVOcaCy when mAnaging unwell Children in primarY care (ADVOCACY): a multi-methods systems approach to co-develop a complex intervention | Health Care Research Wales Dr Tom Purchase is a General Practitioner and a Health and Care Research Wales NIHR Doctoral Fellow at Cardiff University. Tom works with the Patient Safety team at the Division of Population Medicine where his research has focussed on exploring patient safety data to generate recommendations to improve healthcare safety for vulnerable groups. Tom has an interest in applying systems-thinking through the principles of Human Factors and Ergonomics to patient safety research to better understand system complexity within healthcare. Tom’s current fellowship aims to understand how and where parental advocacy takes place within primary care. The project will explore how parents speaking up for their child can be better supported and incorporated into the management of unwell children. This will inform the co-development of system changes to help parents and healthcare staff work together to reduce healthcare-associated harms. Tell us what you thought! We'd love to hear your valuable feedback. Please take 2 minutes to complete the form.
    Show more Show less
    28 mins
  • 13: GP+Humanitarian Health with Dr Hareen De Silva

    13: GP+Humanitarian Health with Dr Hareen De Silva
    May 30 2025
    In this episode, Sophie is joined by Dr Hareen De Silva who has a special interest in Humanitarian and Global Health. Hareen describes how he got into the field, how you can find out if it is the right role for you physically, emotionally and morally and the benefits and downsides of the role. Top tips: 1.Gain Relevant Clinical Experience & Skills Broaden Your Clinical Scope: Try and gain experience in areas often neglected in high-income settings but critical in humanitarian contexts. Just because you may deploy as a GP you may have to step into other situations. Hareen has gained skills over his career. Some of these can be obtained free or paid. Consider using your GP training study budget. Emergency Medicine: ACLS, PALS certifications - paid for by CADUS Trauma Care: Even basic trauma stabilisation Have a look at cheap/free courses organised by a UK chairty called CitizenAid that have a free app to download. Mental Health: Basic psychological first aid (PFA) and recognition/referral of common mental health conditions. There are websites such as Coursera that offer free certification in PFA Procedural Skills: Minor surgery, suturing, wound care, basic fracture management, IV insertion. Resource-Limited Settings: Consider volunteering locally within the UK using your skills. Crisis at Christmas is where he started volunteering and then locally in homeless healthcare clinic in Doncaster. The UK Government website has a database of opportunities. 2. Understand the Humanitarian Aid Sector Research Organisations: There are so many organisations that you could work with. Each has their own individual identity. CADUS is different to other organisations Hareen has worked with. When you interview for a position, make sure your personal values line up with those of the organisation. Humanitarian Principles: Stress the importance of understanding and committing to the core humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. Contextual Awareness: Stay informed about global crises, geopolitical situations, and the specific health challenges in different regions. ReliefWeb has a jobs board and collates information from all around the world. Networking: Connect with doctors already working in the field. LinkedIn, professional associations, and humanitarian aid conferences are good avenues. Hareen is happy to take on mentees via RCGP Mentoring. Realistic Expectations: Prepare for challenging conditions, long hours, emotional toll, and potential ethical dilemmas. This work is not for those with a saviour complex. 3. Essential Training & Qualifications Specific Humanitarian Training: Pre-Deployment Courses: There are plenty of free online resources to help you understand the basics. DisasterReady is a free online resource which Hareen uses every year to increase his knowledge. Tropical Medicine/Public Health Diplomas: These are highly relevant and often required or preferred by some organisations. But think about the financial impact on yourself before paying for courses. Will it help you get a volunteer position or a paid job. Language Skills: Proficiency in languages other than English (especially French, Spanish, Arabic) can be a significant asset and sometimes a requirement for specific deployments. Even just having a few phrases will help to generate rapport with beneficiaries of the project. Security Training: Consider something like a HEAT (Hostile Environment Awareness Training) Course. CADUS offers a free course. The United Nations also has a free course called BSAFE 4. Practical Steps to Get Started Initial Deployments: Your first deployment might not be your "dream" assignment. Starting with shorter deployments or less complex contexts can be a good way to gain experience. Be warned that the smaller organisations may ask you to cover your travel and accomodation costs. Please do not be exploited for voluntourism type projects. Application Process: Be prepared for a rigorous application process, including interviews, assessments, and background checks. Financial Planning: Humanitarian work, especially early on, may not be highly paid. it is advisable to have some financial stability or savings. Health & Wellness: Stress the importance of maintaining their own physical and mental health during and between deployments. Long lasting effects: Hareen has deployed to multiple conflict zones and now has to apply for visas to travel to countries as a tourist. He also holds two passports to avoid questions at the border - one for work and one for tourism. Consider where you want to travel in the future as some countries do not allow travel if you have been to another country. 5. It may not be for everyone You may realise it is not for you, and that is fine. Within the UK we have so many health inequalities and this is how Dr De Silva's humanitarian career started. Consider joining the RCGP Health Equity SIG working group and contribute locally....
    Show more Show less
    33 mins
  • 12: GP+ Lifestyle Medicine with Dr Callum Leese

    12: GP+ Lifestyle Medicine with Dr Callum Leese
    May 23 2025
    This month, Sophie interviews Dr Callum Leese, a First5 GP based in Aberfeldy, Scotland with an extended role in Lifestyle Medicine. Callum shares his journey into the field and signposts to a number of helpful resources if you are interested in finding out more in this area. If you think Lifestyle Medicine could be the right fit for you, here are some top tips to help you find out more: Connect with other Lifestyle Medicine Professionals - The British Society of Lifestyle Medcine (BSLM) is the primary professional body for lifestyle medicine. Callum suggests the BSLM is a great place to start to build those connections through their in-person events, online webinars and networking at the BSLM annual conference. Research if there are any local lifestyle medicine groups and if not, why not initiate one with like-minded colleagues. Callum set up the 'Healthiest Town Aberfeldy' initiative with colleagues to inspire to inspire change and address some of the social determinants of health to inspire healthier lifestyles. Start small and strategic - Figure out what aspect(s) of lifestyle medicine interests you and begin with part time or low commitment roles alongside clinical practice. For example, Callum led on some group patient consultations in his practice for conditions such as diabetes and prostate cancer. This helps him to remain energized and enthusiastic about his role trying out different styles of delivering patient care. Research funding opportunities - Callum suggests look at your local deanery first for potential funding opportunities in lifestyle medicine. If you are a GP registrar, consider the study budget to cover some lifestyle medicine courses such as the BLSM Core Accreditation in Lifestyle Medicine or Red Whale. Callum had previously secured funding from the Claire Wand Fund for some courses in the past. He suggested also checking out the NHS Trust charities as his 'The Movement Prescription' podcast was part funded to support these ideas. Learn more about Lifestyle Medicine initiatives - spend time to do some community mapping in your local area. Callum suggests becoming familiar with existing initiatives and help to shape and support initiatives that already exist. If you identify a gap, think about what you can do but try not to reinvent the wheel. Dr Callum Leese is medically qualified at the University of Edinburgh, a GP in Aberfeldy, whilst working part-time at the University of Dundee undertaking research with the division of population health and genomics. He is co-founder of the community-based charity 'Healthiest Town' in Aberfeldy, Scotland where they try to enact and inspire local change and he is involved with the charity RunTalkRun. Callum is a champion for physical activity and lifestyle at the Royal College of GPs. When not working, Callum will be found running, cycling, skiing or climbing somewhere! Further reading Introduction and overview of GPwER in lifestyle medicine RCGP Physical Activity and Lifestyle hub Upcoming RCGP Lifestyle Medicine webinars Recorded RCGP Lifestyle Medicine webinars BSLM - Transforming Healthcare Through Lifestyle Medicine Callum’s podcast: themovementprescription.co.uk Callum's article after his talk at RCGP last year: GPs Urged to Embed Lifestyle Medicine into Primary Care Parkrun practices initiative Moving Medicine website Tell us what you thought! Please take 2 minutes to complete the survey about this episode.
    Show more Show less
    29 mins
  • 11: GP+ Training Programme Director with Dr Irene Afreh-Mensah

    11: GP+ Training Programme Director with Dr Irene Afreh-Mensah
    Apr 17 2025
    In this month's episode we hear from Dr Irene Afreh-Mensah, a First5 GP whose work week is a variety of clinical work as a salaried GP, TPD and one day of Undergraduate teaching at the local University. Irene shares her experience in medical education to date, skills and qualities needed to be a TPD and advice for those hoping to follow a similar career path.

    If you're aspiring to become a TPD, there are several key steps and tips that can help you prepare for this leadership and educational role:

    • Build a strong network - Networking is powerful as it gives you access to opportunities you may not be aware of otherwise e.g. job vacancies. Engaging with local and national training committees will help you to better understand the challenges and developments in medical education and training. Attending courses, conferences and workshops related to medical education will help you expand your networks and opportunities.

    • Enhance your leadership skills - TPDs have a significant administrative and leadership role, so understanding how to manage teams, projects, and resources is essential. You might want to pursue leadership or management courses to strengthen your skills. Irene advises that you consider what you do in your role now and the transferable skills. Could you within your clinical role maybe lead on a tutorial or give a teaching session where you can receive feedback? This demonstrates you are collating evidence of your commitment to education.

    • Be Passionate About Medical Education - TPDs are often chosen for their passion for medical education. Demonstrate your enthusiasm for shaping the future of the profession through continuous learning, participation in teaching activities, and contributing to educational discussions. Irene states she has always been passionate about medical education. In her opinion, education is sharing of knowledge, and she's always wanted to give back and help others along their educational journey and help them to learn and develop.

    • Carve your career path early - Irene advises that Post Graduate doctors take a step back from the idea that training is three years and focus solely on exams and CCT. She urges you to consider what your ideal career looks like and is there anything you can do during training that can help you work towards that.
      Before Irene started GP Training, she researched various job adverts options to supplement the training. Between ST1 and ST2 she undertook a clinical teaching role. This was a huge springboard for her while training to understand the field of medical education.
    Dr Irene Afreh-Mensah is a portfolio GP, who has a passion for medical education and women's health. Her working week is comprised of a salaried role, undergraduate teaching, and postgraduate teaching as a training programme director. She loves spending her downtime with friends and family, going hiking and trying new cuisines.

    Further reading

    General Practice Specialty Training guidance
    https://www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/qualifying-as-a-gp/cct-guidance/training-guidance

    NHS jobs
    https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate

    Local Medical Committees
    https://www.bma.org.uk/what-we-do/local-medical-committees

    Tell us what you thought!
    Please take 2 minutes to complete the survey about this episode.
    Show more Show less
    16 mins
  • 10: GP+ Migrant Health with Dr Sarah Clark

    10: GP+ Migrant Health with Dr Sarah Clark
    Mar 14 2025
    This month we hear from Dr Sarah Clark who works one day a week as a clinical assessor for Medical Justice. Medical Justice are a charity who work to support the health and legal rights for people who are held in immigration detention. Sarah outlines how she got into the role and what it involves and where you can find out more information.


    Top tips

    • Provide Holistic patient care - When working with those held in immigration detention, it is important to consider the whole person in front of you, addressing both the physical and psychosocial aspects of your patient’s health. Migrants may face multiple stressors, including housing insecurity, lack of social support, or financial difficulties, which can affect their mental health too.
    • Manage the Emotional Impact - Working with migrant populations, especially those facing trauma can be emotionally taxing. Take time for self-care and seek professional support when needed. Sarah recommends taking some down time after the assessments. Medical Justice also offer groups with a psychotherapist that you are welcome to attend. They also offer six funded sessions of psychotherapy per year to support your mental wellbeing as a GP.
    • Explore uncharted territory - If you are interested in getting involved, Sarah recommends attending one of the Medical Justice basics training days which are advertised on their website, usually held twice a year. Sarah encourages you to sign up to their mailing list to find out first about upcoming training dates. The training provides an overview of the work involved and an opportunity to decide if it is for you. There's no commitment as you can try a few assessments to see if it's something you want to pursue a career in.
    • Do your research - Research the main charities websites who do this type of work such as Medical Justice, the Helen Bamber Foundation and read through statements from both patients and doctors who work for these charities. Some of the organisations host webinars where you can stay up to date on their website and social media channels for upcoming events to attend to get more information.
    Dr Sarah Clark is a GP in Bristol and has a portfolio role working with Medical Justice as a Clinical Assessor.

    Further reading

    Medical Justice website
    https://medicaljustice.org.uk/

    Helen Bamber Foundation website
    https://www.helenbamber.org/

    RCGP GPwER in Population Health and Health Inequalities Framework
    https://www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-extended-roles/population-health-inequalities-introduction

    RCGP Asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants
    https://www.rcgp.org.uk/representing-you/policy-areas/asylum-seekers

    RCGP Health Inequities Hub and Health Equity Special Interest Group
    https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/view.php?id=459

    RCGP Mentoring
    https://www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-mentoring

    Migrant Health guide
    https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migrant-health-guide

    Tell us what you thought!
    Please take 2 minutes to complete the survey about this episode.
    Show more Show less
    13 mins
  • 9: GP+ Working in Secure Environments with Dr Juli McCulloch

    9: GP+ Working in Secure Environments with Dr Juli McCulloch
    Feb 21 2025
    In this month’s episode we hear from Dr Juli McCulloch, a First5 GP working in secure environments and secondary care addiction services. Juli provides valuable insights into working in a high security prison, how her personal interest attracted her to the role and the benefits of pursuing this specialist interest. If you have any questions, please reach out to member.programmes@rcgp.org.uk and we are happy to put you in touch with Juli.

    Top tips

    • Research the different types of secure environments - There are a range of secure environments you can work in as a GP including open prisons, higher security units, immigration detention centres, and more. Juli works in a high security men's prison but she urges you to consider the type of secure environments near to you that interest you.
    • The job can be rewarding but emotionally demanding -Patients in these environments tend to have more complex needs and have experienced more trauma, often resulting in more mental health and substance use concerns. You need to consider how to care for yourself and your emotional resilience as well. Juli mixes prison shifts with a varied work week within a Portfolio career to protect herself from burnout.
    • Contacts are key - Juli highlighted that she secured an interview for her other role in substance misuse through her GP partner colleague, who had a contact in the local addiction services. Connect with GPs already working in secure environments to gain first-hand accounts of their experiences, join online forums, and seek out mentorship opportunities in this area. She found this route much easier and more informative than searching for job adverts and listed vacancies.
    • Preserve human dignity and provide empathy - It’s important to always approach individuals in secure environments with empathy and respect, recognizing their vulnerability. Juli states that a simple, human connection can make a significant difference in their experience and well-being.
    • Same but different - Juli highlights that she was not required to complete any additional qualifications to work in the prison environment. Although the structure and environment is different a lot of the day-to-day clinical work is exactly the same as that of your community GP clinics including chronic disease management, triaging patients, prescriptions for the pharmacists, and dealing with queries from the nurses. In Juli’s experience she also sees fewer patients per shift, allowing you to spend more time if the patient needs it.

    Dr Juli McCulloch is a First5 GP working in Fife and Tayside. She divides her working week between a long-term locum GP post, a salaried post in secondary care addiction services, and a few shifts monthly at her local prison.

    Further reading

    RCGP Secure Environments hub
    https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/view.php?id=561

    RCGP Secure Environments elearning course
    https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/enrol/index.php?id=560

    RCGP Secure Environments group
    https://www.rcgp.org.uk/about/communities-groups/secure-environments

    RCGP Mentoring
    https://www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-mentoring

    BMA Forensic and secure environments committee
    https://www.bma.org.uk/what-we-do/committees/forensic-and-secure-environments-committee/forensic-and-secure-environments-committee-overview

    BMA Forensic and secure environments ethics toolkit
    https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/ethics/working-in-detention-settings/forensic-and-secure-environments-ethics-toolkit

    Tell us what you thought!
    Please take 2 minutes to complete the survey about this episode.
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • 8: GP+ Appraiser with Dr Nicky Wilson

    8: GP+ Appraiser with Dr Nicky Wilson
    Jan 24 2025
    In this month’s episode our host Dr Sophie Lumley is joined by Dr Nicky Wilson, a GP appraiser since 2018. Nicky outlines her career journey so far, the skills required to be appraiser, benefits of the role and much more.

    Top tips:

    • Build a career to suit you – the role offers flexibility in terms of how many appraisals you want to take on each year (usually up to 22-24) and these can be done at a time that suits you and your appraisee. You also need to consider the time dedicated both before the appraisal for preparation and the write up afterwards in your overall time commitment.
    • Seek inspiration from others – Nicky enjoys finding out what others are doing as part of their personal development plans (PDP) and is often inspired by their ideas for innovative practice and new ways of working. Some of these ideas may inspire you to make improvements in your own GP practice.
    • Reach out to your local networks – if you want to become an appraiser, Nicky advises that you reach out to your local appraiser team about recruitment opportunities and application process. If you aren’t successful the first time – don’t give up! Ask for feedback and apply again.
    • Consult with your colleagues – as an appraiser, Nicky states she was assigned a senior appraiser who she could seek advice from. She also attends small group meetings facilitated by experiences appraisers where they come together to talk about new guidance on appraisal/revalidation, difficult cases etc.
    • Consider brushing up on your soft skills – Nicky suggests coaching/mentoring training can help bring out these soft skills beneficial when applying to be an appraiser such as empathy, good listening skills and providing constructive feedback to others.

    Dr Nicky Wilson is a GP in Gloucestershire and has a portfolio role working as an Appraiser.

    Further reading
    RCGP guide to your appraisal
    https://www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/revalidation/appraisal-guide-introduction

    Appraisal bodies in the Devolved Nations

    Scotland
    https://www.appraisal.nes.scot.nhs.uk/

    Wales
    https://heiw.nhs.wales/support/revalidation-support-unit/gp-appraisal/

    Northern Ireland
    https://www.nimdta.gov.uk/gp-appraisal-revalidation-and-mentoring/gp-appraisal/

    NHSE appraisal information
    https://www.england.nhs.uk/professional-standards/medical-revalidation/appraisers/

    RCGP Mentoring platform
    https://www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-mentoring

    Tell us what you thought!
    Please take 2 minutes to complete the survey about this episode.
    Show more Show less
    16 mins
  • 7: GP+ Genomics with Dr Will Evans

    7: GP+ Genomics with Dr Will Evans
    Dec 12 2024
    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 framework
    https://www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-extended-roles/introduction-clinical-genetics-genomics
    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 england.administration.genomicseducation@nhs.net

    Tell us what you thought!
    Please take 2 minutes to complete the survey about this episode.
    Show more Show less
    22 mins
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro805_stickypopup