RCGP issues consultation on major plan to improve general practice

More needs to be done to boost the profile and status of general practice to attract new entrants to the profession and to increase the skills of current GPs if the challenges facing UK healthcare are to be met, the Royal College of General Practitioners has said.

The college has set out an ambitious plan for the future of general practice over the next decade in a bid to ensure that there are enough GPs who are equipped to take on roles in health service development and improving patient care.

The proposals, which are now out for consultation until 8 October, will inform a blueprint for the future role and responsibilities of GPs so that they can meet the challenges of an ageing population, ever tighter fiscal restraints, and the increasing volume and complexity of care.1

Among other things, the plan looks at how GPs can develop new ways of working and acquire additional expertise to enable them to provide high quality, integrated, and cost effective services closer to patients’ homes.

The proposals set out three main areas for action. These include raising the profile and status of the profession so as to boost the number of doctors opting for general practice and retaining the existing workforce by increasing the levels of support and resources and doing more to assist returners.

The college also wants to advance professional development by supporting research and innovation and extending postgraduate training to four years.

Last week, Medical Education England backed the college’s case for beefing up GP specialist training by giving its unanimous support for the proposal from the Medical Programme Board for four years of GP training.

However, the Department of Health will still have to consider the affordability and feasibility of introducing the extended programme across the UK, and the General Medical Council will need to approve the new curriculum and assessment system, before any changes get the green light.

Christine Outram, managing director of Medical Education England, said, “We recognise that the current system of training for GPs has been in place for 30 years and needs to change to adapt to future challenges.

“These particularly include the need to meet the demands of an ageing population receiving an increasing proportion of care close to home and improvements to GP training in relation to the care of children and young people and [people] with mental health problems.”

The college said that it was “thrilled” that Medical Education England had accepted its proposals for a four year postgraduate education programme.