Sunday 10 November 2013

Solutions to A&E

General practice and A&E departments are at crisis point responding to growing demand and expectations. +Mark Robinson has the solution! Do you agree with him? I certainly do.

Tuesday 5 November 2013

Top tips for GPs

Inspired by online conversations between GPs, +James Kennedy posted this sage advice on Tiko's GP Group on Facebook
I have been intrigued on this site to see the variety of ways GPs practice our art. It is bringing out the philosophical side of me. I do wonder if we should as GPs have a few practical "commandments", principles that will help us to survive and enjoy our professional life and practice in a professional manner. All suggestions welcome but here is my starter for 10 in no particular order:
  1. Have humility. You don't know everything (and neither does anyone else, including the eminent Doctors in white coats from your local "Centre of Excellence"). 
  2. Listen rather than speak and use the power of silence. It's amazing what patients or colleagues will say when there is a silent pause and you will gain insight. 
  3. Respect yourself and then others may respect you. If you act like a doormat do not be surprised if others wipe their feet on you.
  4. In a busy professional life delegate appropriately and support those to whom you delegate. Remember you are the best trained and most adaptable member of the team but also the most expensive. Put your effort where it adds value - for you, your patients and your team.
  5. Try to learn something new each day.
  6. Remember you are running a business. You have to balance the books. People's incomes depend on you.
  7. You and your team are a limited resource. If you waste resources you deny patients. You cannot do everything for everybody.
  8. Remember your patients' and colleagues' problems are their problems and you can help them but you cannot take their problems onto yourself: you have enough of your own to deal with and it would unfair on you, your family and those who love you.
  9. You cannot change the world but you can change bits of it. Change is made by those who refuse to accept the status quo. Keep nudging and eventually change will result.
What would you add to this list? Please feel free to suggest additions/amendments in the comments below.

Creative Commons Licence
James Kennedy has kindly allowed this post to be used "in any environment you wish".
Thanks, Jim. I interpret this as equivalent to a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

Sunday 3 November 2013

Pills, bills and bellyaches: a peek behind the scenes at a GP surgery

Brilliant article in The Guardian by Stephen Moss describing the reality of general practice: what we do and the pressures we face.