I applied to the
Grampian Career Start programme for a variety of reasons: Mainly because I enjoy
hospital-based acute medicine and emergency care in particular, and was keen to
maintain an interest in these areas. Also because I felt I still had a lot to
learn despite completing my GP training, and Career start seemed like a good
half-way house between a trainee position, and working full-time in General
practice. It offers support and supervision if required, and also the stability
of being based in one GP practice as opposed to moving about between surgeries
as a locum GP, which would have been the alternative option for me at this
stage.
My post consists
of two days per week at Turriff Medical Centre, a rural practice with adjoining
community hospital and casualty/minor injuries unit. My speciality rotation is
‘Unscheduled care’, meaning I work sessions in A&E at Aberdeen Royal
Infirmary, rotating through the majors department, minor injuries unit and
paediatric A&E, depending on staff cover. There is also a weekly GMED
commitment which can be completed in any of the centres within Aberdeenshire,
depending on preference.
The main
plus-point for me about Career Start is the flexibility: I was able to specify
the number of sessions I wished to work, and organise my weekly rota within the
various different areas to suit me. As a result it allows a good work-life
balance; both annual leave and study leave are straightforward to organise, and
GMED sessions can be grouped together if required e.g. one 12-hour session every
3-weeks as opposed to 4-hours weekly.
Another positive
has been gaining an insight into a different GP practice to the one in which I
trained, which was a City surgery in Aberdeen. Being based rurally is a
different experience entirely, as it often requires more lateral thinking to
overcome logistical issues, and in my opinion necessitates more holistic patient
care. The Duty doctor sessions can also be a bit more varied, as you can be
called to respond to emergency incidents and road traffic collisions on behalf
of the ambulance service, on top of the usual list of house calls and on-the-day
appointments.
The Career
start programme has also given me time to develop new skills within my areas of
interest, and become more competent in the assessment of unwell patients &
minor injuries presentations, which will undoubtedly be useful to me in the
future within General practice.
I would recommend
the career start programme to anybody who is uncertain about what particular
path they wish their GP career to take, as it allows exploration of interests
and the opportunity to experience different areas of practice, within a
supportive environment. It is also a great opportunity after GP training to gain
confidence, and expand knowledge prior to the commitment of a 'full time' GP
post.
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