GP Specialty Training during and after the COVID Pandemic - an opportunity for flexibility

In a matter of days, once the scale, impact and risks of COVID-19 were known, general practice moved to phone and on-line/ video consulting, hot and cold clinics and working with the wider team to identify and provide care to vulnerable groups of patients.  I don’t think I ever thought I’d be doing a full clinic from home with full access to records, whilst interacting with my practice team throughout. By some estimates more than 90% of current consultations are “remote”.  Of course, this new way of working was expedited by necessity and has been greatly assisted by years of personal relationships and continuity; the value of which should not be underestimated.

During this time, the way formal education sessions are being delivered changed dramatically across all specialties and our incredible GP trainees stepped up, many “running towards danger”. E-learning opportunities have multiplied, the process for recognising trainee experience has been adapted, and flexible training pathways have been developed to facilitate the return of trainees.

There is an opportunity for such flexible approaches to be developed further throughout recruitment, training, examination and clinical practice, recognising the need to create even more rewarding and adaptable careers.

Considering the future of General Practice, it is probably unlikely that the COVID-19 model of relying almost exclusively on remote methods of consulting will remain as it is equally unlikely that the model will revert to the pre-COVID era. Patients and colleagues alike have experienced the freedom and opportunity of multiple consultation modalities and the flexibility of consulting from different locations. A new balance between the different consultation models will ensue which will better reflect the value of face-to-face consultations, relational care and continuity in certain contexts.