Top 5 reasons to be proud as a GP

Dr Jon Griffiths seeks to motivate GPs who may be feeling underappreciated – and sometimes second best 

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Dr Jon Griffiths

Reports suggest that many GPs are at breaking point, considering early retirement, and struggling with mental health. Let’s discuss five reasons why GPs should be proud of what they do.

• GPs save lives

When you are a GP your direct impact, and the fact you are helping to save lives, is not always obvious. Occasionally you might have a life-threatening emergency in the practice, or at someone’s home, where your response and treatment help but, fortunately, that doesn’t happen all that often. However, the reality is we save lives all the time. 

How many people have GPs referred resulting in early treatment for cancer? How many children have been immunised at their surgeries against illnesses? How many people have stopped smoking after speaking to their GPs? How many people have not had a stroke because their atrial fibrillation was identified and treated? How many people with mental health problems have had their lives saved by intervention – not only because of suicide prevention but also by helping those who come to you feel as though they have a meaningful life, free from anxiety or depression. 

• GPs are highly trained specialist generalists

There is a common misconception that all doctors are trained to be GPs and then they will ‘specialise’ – the others go on to be ‘just GPs’. 

In fact, GPs should remember that this is a chosen vocation, and is also specialised. You need to apply to the training, be accepted, pass the exams etc. The intellectual requirements to be a GP are immense. A recent colleague of mine said, “A GP knows more gynaecology than any doctor in the hospital apart from the gynaecologists, more respiratory medicine than anyone in the hospital other than the respiratory consultants, more urology than anyone in the hospital other than the urologists”. 

The term ‘Jack of All Trades’ is sometimes related to knowing a little about a lot; however, GPs know a lot about a lot. This is important for patients as the broad knowledge base is exactly what is required when people present with vague, undifferentiated symptoms and presentations.

GPs are great at sifting through the, sometimes complex, way in which people present, working out who needs further investigation, who needs treatment, observation, referral and reassurance. GPs will also offer lifestyle advice and encouragement. 

• GPs are highly effective 

A 1% increase in general practitioners per head of population (267 more) is associated with a 0.368% decrease in hospital standardised mortality ratios – so 575 fewer deaths.

This is a tangible demonstration of the effectiveness of NHS GPs and should be sufficient to get the investment needed. The research suggests that more GPs would mean more lives saved. GPs are effective and efficient. 90% of all patient contacts in the NHS take place in primary care, which receives only about 10% of the budget. 

• GPs care for whole populations

GPs are paid to provide care for their entire population and need to plan their services accordingly. Prevention, and keeping people well, is not just about dealing with illnesses as they present.

GPs are great at tackling, and helping with, the causes. For example, take smoking. A hospital will likely see, and deal with, the tip of the iceberg. However, many smokers never go anywhere near the hospital and taking the public health, community-based, approach is likely to bring about greater long-term results. 

Both hospitals and GPs aim to reduce smoking rates, but with very different approaches. The population approach will, ultimately, have a greater impact, with the greatest improvements in health for all the people they are responsible for. This is not just about treating those who are ill, but about keeping them well. 

• GPs will save the NHS.

The perspective that GPs have means they can see where the greatest need is.  If you ask a handful of hospital specialists where they think the NHS should put additional resource, how might they respond? The gastroenterologist will say that we should invest in gastroenterology, the orthopaedic consultant will suggest orthopaedics, the cardiologist in cardiology, etc. A GP will give an answer based on their generalist, holistic, approach and view of the whole of the NHS.

GPs see almost everything, and have insight into almost every aspect of the NHS. Generally, they are more objective about the needs that are presented and will help keep the NHS as great as it can be. 

In summary

GPs are amazing! GPs need to be proud of what they do and how they do it. We are in danger of GPs leaving the profession and, if that happens, the negative impact on the rest of the service will be enormous. 

We need to encourage, celebrate, and value our GPs.