What do GPs do?

Lots!  No GP does the same. Clinical work is only a part. We help our patients by advocating / troubleshooting /navigating/ coordinating their care. 

See patients. We tend to see the more complex, sicker patients - those in training getting increasing exposure to complexity with time. That includes those with mental health concerns, addiction, complex social issues ,frailty, palliative care,  polypharmacy, multimorbidity etc. We do this both at our clinics, Domiciliary or Nursing Homes and in OOH service. Example of a GPs day

Manage a team. A GP will likely have other GP Partners, Assistants, Locums, GP Registrars or INTERNS! We have Practice Nurses who run lists who we also have overall responsibility for. We may have other HCAs like phlebotomists etc.

General Practice is a business. Our " Front of house" team are integral to running the practice. Practice Manager, Receptionists, Secretaries etc. all do a difficult job. 

Educate & Learn. We may take in undergraduates or postgraduate students. We may educate other GPs. All Doctors must ensure they comply with Continuous Professional Development (CME).

Administration. Clinical work such as results, reports, letters, referrals, repeat prescriptions etc. Non-clinical work is now often taken care of by PMs.

Other stuff.... Some GPs have special interests - these allow inter-referrals from other GPs to reduce delays / reduce burden on secondary care. Examples - US, TOP, Joint injection, LARC, Minor surgery, SATU, Legal work, Occ Health, Universities, ICGP, 


Some GPs are single handed ( work alone) , most are now in group practices.

Some are Partners. Some are salaried. Some work LTFT. Some job share. Some work in more than 1 practice. Some GPs work as locums / video-doc / corporate etc.