5 things to know as a newly qualified GP
After the years of hard work, exams, and preparation, you have finally qualified as a GP. Firstly, congratulations! Secondly, if only that was it! On the contrary, there are quite a few things you still need to do and get to grips with before making your move into general practice. We have broken it down into five main areas to make it easier to get the right role for you, and to be completely on top of the necessary requirements and paperwork to make your life easier.
1. Join the NHS Performers List and receive your CCT
All newly qualified GPs wishing to administer primary care in the UK need to be on the NHS Performers List, which as of 2019 can be completed via the PCSE online portal. It is important to register to be on the list as it is assurance to the public that a GP or medical practitioner is up to date on their training and have passed the necessary background checks and language skills to administer care. Getting your application in as soon as possible will help you stay on top of the process.
In addition to getting on the NHS Performers List, you will also need to complete and get your Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) from the General Medical Council (GMC). This confirms that you have completed an approved UK training programme and are eligible to register as a GP.
Once you have these two points completed you should be in a great position to start looking and applying for permanent or locum work.
2. Appraisals and revalidation in your first GP jobs
Once you have these two points completed you should be in a great position to start looking and applying for permanent or locum work.
Once you are in a role you should begin to put together evidence of learning and reflection for your appraisals and revalidation. It will be beneficial to collating this evidence if you can arrange to have your first appraisal roughly 10 – 18 months after receiving your CCT and every year from that point. Appraisals are an excellent way to gain constructive feedback about your performance and work out a plan of action for the next phase of your career or work out in which direction you want to go from there. You will usually cover the following in your appraisals:
- Feedback from patients, management, and peers
- Overview of any events taken part in
- Continual professional development (CPD)
It is important to have this in mind early on when you start as it will make drawing together your evidence and points of interest much easier. Many argue that initially starting off as a locum GP will mean that you will see and be involved in a wider variety of environments and scenarios which will make drawing together evidence proving your adaptability, CPD and feedback much easier, but this is up to you.
When it comes to revalidation, you will need to contact the GMC to be allocated a date and an officer who will handle it. The revalidation process proves that you took part in those yearly appraisals and outlines the full scope of work you covered.
3. Stay organised
As a newly qualified GP you may be surprised by the increase in paperwork you will need to complete. This can be anything from patient paperwork to your own referrals and insurance reports. Finding a way to stay organised about it will help you form life-long habits that will prove invaluable in keeping your stress levels down in what can be a chaotic and stressful role. Keeping all your documentation in order and up to date will also help you when it comes to your compliance levels.
4. Indemnity and insurance
The GMC made it a requirement that all GPs have indemnity or insurance arrangements, the type and level of detail will depend on the position you take and the organisation you work for. Do not be put off by complicated explanations or processes, getting professional protection is an incredibly important step to ensuring protection for both yourself and your patients in case the unforeseeable happens.
5. Find your support
As when starting anything new, and particularly when starting a new job, it is important to identify what support is available to you. You colleagues will be an invaluable source of support, try not to be intimidated by their experience and see reaching out to them for guidance as a means of gaining insight. Many organisations offer work-based mentorship schemes that you can explore to make sure you do not feel isolated and under too much pressure.
GP career options
Many GPs struggle in the first few years as it can be overwhelming despite the years of training. Finding someone in your corner will help you face the challenges of delivering exceptional care to patients and build an incredible career. Getting in touch with a medical service like Key Medical Services, can open the door to more opportunities than you might have access to on your own. We can also support you with any paperwork you need and can guide you through the registration processes outlined above immediately after you have qualified.
If you are considering becoming a locum and are looking for advice on how to register as a limited company or source assignments, our team of professionals are happy to guide you in this time. They can help you get your compliance levels up to 100% and help source the best locum opportunities that suit your career goals.