Developing a ‘GP portfolio career’ appeals to a variety of GPs at various stages of their career. With patient numbers rising and the demand on services increasing, it’s easy to understand why.
A portfolio career can:
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Provide a welcome alternative to full time surgery life
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Offer flexible routines
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Enable GPs to enhance and develop clinical, managerial and teaching skills
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Introduce GPs to colleagues and peers from outside their usual environments
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Provide opportunities for learning which can be brought back to surgeries to enhance patient care
'Many of the GPs we work with often wonder ‘when is a good time?’ to start looking at developing a portfolio career. Our answer is, always...there are always opportunities with surgeries all over the UK where GPs can develop a portfolio career.
'If you’re in a position where you feel you know the direction you want to take then that’s half the battle done. It’s then a case of matching what you’re looking for in the role to a location where it’s available - that’s the tricky bit and that’s where we can help.'
- Jason Dunn, business development manager, Prospect Health
A portfolio career can take many different forms; here are just some of the options available to GPs:
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Primary Care Education – ultimately becoming a GP trainer, but there are many stages along the way. Training other GPs is a great way to be practice-based whilst linking with other GPs in your area. It can also lead to working with your city’s university where you get to be the conduit between students and their understanding of delivering excellent patient care.
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Commissioning – becoming part of your local commissioning group enables you to support and vocalise the needs of your colleagues and your patients. No experience is required, just your willingness and ability to get involved and support how decisions are made by government that impact on your area.
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Specialisms – from mental health to minor surgery, there are various specialisms GPs can choose from. Decisions as to what to specialise in can be made as a result of experiences during training or for personal reasons, but taking a day or maybe more from your week to dedicate to a specialism can be extremely rewarding.
If you would like to discuss your options as a GP and would like to find out about opportunities that would suit your ideal working pattern you can contact Prospect Health’s GP team on 01423 813454.
