About me
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Name: |
Minali |
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Current role: |
General Practitioner, Medical Educator and GP Appraiser |
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Work setting: |
General Practices, 2x Training Hubs, NHS England |
I am a GP based in various practices across Nottinghamshire and the West Midlands. I also work remotely from home for my other roles.
My career journey
My career began back in high school, needing to select particular A levels and completing work experience relevant to medicine and healthcare. I have worked as a junior doctor in hospitals during my journey to becoming a GP, and also worked as a lifeguard when I was younger. I was not certain about becoming a doctor, but chose it because I was good at science, I enjoy variety and working with people, and I have been able to meld my career into one I very much like now.
How I got into this role
My necessary qualifications include doing well at GCSEs and A levels, followed by a medical degree at university, and then completion of junior doctor training, focusing on General Practice Speciality Training, also known as the Vocational Training Scheme (VTS).
It is possible to enter medicine as a Postgraduate and complete a differing Undergraduate Bachelor’s degree when younger. Some doctors pursue careers in secondary care / hospitals, prior to embarking on their GP training.
What my role involves
My day-to-day role involves assessment of patients face-to-face, alongside some telephone consultations, reading letters and paperwork from the hospital and other providers, home visits, nursing home ward rounds, reviewing blood tests and other results, completion of various tasks and prescriptions, and sometime triaging patients’ requests.
My medical education roles include writing and designing presentations, delivering teaching and training to a range of healthcare professionals, completing colleague appraisals, supervising peers and junior colleagues, and assessing learning environments.
What I enjoy most
I very much enjoy making a difference to people’s lives and trying to improve how they feel and function day-to-day.
My medical education roles help to improve my colleagues’ working lives focusing on their well-being and work-life balance.
Challenges
It can be difficult to meet the expectations of members of the public, especially when working within a constraint, nationalised health service (NHS). There is sometimes not enough time in the day to complete everything! Despite the challenges, variety in my working week makes it manageable and more enjoyable.
Skills you need
A wide array of skills is required to succeed as a General Practitioner, such as:
Communication
Teamwork
Organisational
Patience
Resilience
Compassion
Empathy
Problem-solving
Time management
Drive
Ambition
My advice
Start by finding out more about the career and spend a day shadowing someone already doing it, to determine whether you like it and if it is suited to you or not.
Read more 'Day in the life' of primary care workers
We've pulled together all these personal journeys to showcase the diversity of primary care roles and give a hollistic, honest view of the highs and lows that come with the job. We believe primary care is a rewarding career path and our goal is make Nottingham and Nottinghamshire a great place to work, so our workforce can deliver the best possible care.
This case study forms part of our work experience activity. It is perfect for students aged 14 or over (school or college), career changers, or anyone interested in exploring careers in health and social care. If you complete 5 activities you can achieve a gold level certificate. Already downloaded your pack? Read more stories! Want to join this work experience? Click to start!
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