A Day In The Life of a Rural GP

Rachael Crawford is a Rural Fellow working with NHS Highland as a GP in Sutherland. In this article for NHS Highland she describes her day as a rural GP

Selling Medicine and General Practice

Here is a photo of our GPSTs at the NHS Grampian stand at the recent Skills Scotland event. They had a very successful and enjoyable day promoting studying medicine to school pupils.

" I really enjoyed the event and talking with the school children. I answered specific and varied questions from 'Is it like Gray anatomy?' To 'What grades are needed for entrance?' to giving the children answers on the qualities needed, promoting the various options medicine provides, to promoting medicine and GP in general and making it sound really fun."

Developing an Interest in Sexual Health

Rachael Hamilton, one of our  ST3s talks about how she has developed her special interest in sexual health.

"As you can imagine, Sexual Health forms a large proportion of consultations in General Practice. It was during my first 6 months of General Practice in ST1 that I appreciated just how many! How to help patients in choosing the best and safest method of contraception for them? What to do if they have adverse effects, complications? How to manage tricky ethical issues? I fast found myself wishing to become more knowledgeable in this area and made it one of my goals whilst in General Practice training to complete the Diploma in Sexual and Reproductive Health (DFSRH).

The diploma was straight forward to apply for by emailing the DFSRH co-ordinator for the Northeast of Scotland and filling out the appropriate forms. The DFSRH comprises of three stages. Firstly, an online knowledge assessment - a straightforward test of basic theory. Secondly, a course which comprises of 5 hours of small group workshops - this was an informal and friendly day out of practice, a chance to show my knowledge by participating in group discussion and learn more from the experts. Finally, a few days spent with the experts at the centre for Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare to gain clinical experience and be observed as part of an assessment.

I found the diploma fascinating and so worthwhile. The workload was very manageable whilst being a full time GPST. I completed the first part of the diploma in ST1, the practical sessions in ST2 and so when returning to General Practice in ST3 I had achieved my diploma. I was so much more confident consulting with patients regarding contraception, related ethical issues and sexual health problems. Once every couple of weeks I now do the contraceptive clinic at the practice which comprises solely of performing contraceptive implant procedures. As well as this being very helpful for the practice, it can be a lovely alternative to 10 minute consultations!

Aberdeen now offers a career start programme in Sexual and Reproductive Health which enables you to become even more experienced in this area.

Whether you wish to carry out the Sexual and Reproductive Health diploma for increased knowledge or to pursue it as a specialist interest, I would highly recommend it!

Rachael"

One Week Left to Apply for GP Training

There is one week left to make that all important decision to apply for GP Training August 2016 entry.  The North of Scotland GP Training programs are ranked amongst the highest in the UK in the annual GMC training survey.  Couple that with the amazing lifestyle opportunities available in the North of Scotland and you have a great package on offer.

North of Scotland, The Outdoor Capital of Great Britain

The North of Scotland really can boast of being the outdoor capital of the UK.  The opportunities are endless.  Whether it is hill walking, climbing, cycling, skiing, kayaking or sailing there is something here for you.  The scenery is breathtaking as can be seen in this short video of the Cairngorms and the North & West Highlands.  

Our Grampian scheme is within an hour drive of the southern and eastern Cairngorms whilst our Caledonian scheme based around Inverness is within easy reach of both the Cairngorms and the North West Highlands.  Our rural track scheme bases in Oban, Fort William, Stornoway, Wick Shetland and Orkney have all this on their doorstep.

So if it is the outdoors that you enjoy, there is nowhere better to go for your GP training!

View from the other end...

It was an ordinary appointment in an ordinary surgery in the North of Scotland.  I was seeing Janet (predictably, not her real name) and her mum and they set me thinking...They’re part of an extended family of just six who've seen me through my working lifetime since they cover five generations and a quarter century of my own Practice here.  It’s an amazing privilege to be involved in their lives and loves (not literally!), their aspirations and fears and ultimately one of their passing. If the involvement itself wasn't enough, there’s been a plethora of medical interest and curiosities intertwining with their complexity. Out of this six, I've been involved with a multitude of conditions. And that’s before considering how life events such as redundancy, emigration and planning disputes have affected their respective health. Finally, into the mix, I’d need to add their interests such as, photography, dancing and dubious football alliances.

This is the joy of continuity across families and generations and only General Practice can offer it. For me, it’s a genuine privilege and has sustained me through QOF and more NHS restructuring than anyone should have to endure in a working lifetime.  Patients value it, we value it and we should be spreading the word among our own- this is why General Practice is different, this is why it’s interesting- even after 30 years!

Alex Thain

One Week Till August 2016 GP Training Applications Open

Applications for August 2016 GP training open Wednesday November 11th and will remain open for 3 weeks and will close December 3rd.

We have 3 programs here in the North of Scotland.  The Grampian program is based around Aberdeen and offers a mixture of opportunities with both town practices in and around Aberdeen and more rural options across Aberdeenshire.  The Caledonian program is centered on Inverness and again has a mix of general practices both in the city of Inverness and more rural practices across Moray and Highland.

Our final program is the National Rural Track program that is based around our Rural General hospitals in Oban, Fort William, Stornoway, Wick, Orkney and Shetland.  This innovative four year program offers fantastic training opportunities within the hospital posts along with the rewarding and challenging experiences of rural general practice.

Not only do our programs receive the best feedback from our trainees in the GMC survey but Grampian and Highland also consistently rank among the top regions in the UK in quality of life surveys.

Whether it is the vibrant social life of the cities of Aberdeen or Inverness or the fantastic outdoor opportunities that abound in the North of Scotland, we have something for everyone.