Medical unions call for GPs to be recognised as expert medical generalists

A group of medical unions are calling for GPs to be recognised as expert medical generalists

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has, this month, partnered with other medical leaders to recognise GPs as expert medical generalists.

The RCGP, the British Medical Association (BMA) and the General Medical Council (GMC) have released a joint statement recognising GPs as expert medical generalists – and, as such, specialists in general practice.

In 2007, GP Specialty Training was formally introduced in the UK. It replaced previous models of training.

This followed the revision of the criteria within the regulatory framework of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board for approval of specialist training in general practice.

To practice as a GP, UK graduates must complete a minimum of three years General Practitioner Specialty Training (GPST) on a GMC-approved programme, pass the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) assessments and gain a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).

Assurance processes are in place to ensure doctors who move to the UK from elsewhere – or demonstrate equivalent knowledge, skills and experience – also meet these high standards.

GP Specialty Training enables doctors to gain the skills and experience required to make a huge and vital contribution to healthcare in the UK, providing expert care and treatment to millions of patients.

GPs are not currently legally recognised as specialists in the UK once they have qualified, due to the existence of two separate GMC registers for senior doctors.

The RCGP and BMA are continuing to call for this to change, which the GMC supports.

Read the joint statement here.

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