Outcomes of the Initiative (to date)
RCGP Scotland’s Essence of General Practice project was
initiated to look critically at contractual and educational
developments in UK practice. The underlying concern was that the
focus on measureable activities in the new GMS contract would lead
to the loss of something important but hard to measure in general
practice: the essence. Through a series of exploratory learning
journeys, commissioned pieces of 100 words on general practice from
GPs and the RCGP (Scotland) patient group, and a discussion day
with over 40 GPs, we have produced the following outcomes:
For an event held in
2006, a number of GPs were asked each to contribute their view, in
no more than 100 words, the most critical choices facing future
students of General Practice and educators creating GPs of the
future. In addition, at a P3 meeting (Patient Partnership in
Practice - RCGP Scotland’s Patient Involvement Group) held in June
2007, each member was asked to contribute 100 words on “What do you
value from your GP?” and “What do you see as the unique role of
your GP?” The Essence of General Practice Steering Group,
having already begun developing the collection of GP words into GP
Learning Tools, agreed to amalgamate the P3 contributions with the
GPs, in order to portray a more rounded picture of General Practice
by offering the perspective of a variety of patients. In
fact, some used more, some less than 100 words, but the aim was to
provide short and pithy paragraphs on important aspects of
contemporary General Practice.
- A DISCUSSION PAPER IN THE
BJGP
A Discussion paper
“Distilling the essence of general practice: a learning journey in
progress” was published in the May 2009 edition of
the BJGP.
This paper discusses the changes to General
Practice in the UK over the past five years within the areas of
training, contacts and regulation, and attempts to define some
characteristics of the essence of general practice.
Two commentaries from Civitas, a civil
society institute and from a US specialist on governance and risk
were published alongside, as well as an editorial from the current
RCGP President.
- A SEMINAR ON ESSENCE AND VISION
An inspiring seminar on ‘Essence and
Vision’ was held with Professor Jan de Maeseneer, University of
Gent, Belgium, at RCGP Scotland in May 2010, to discuss an
International perspective on the Essence of General Practice
initiative entitled “General Practice in Scotland: Essence and
Vision". During this meeting, Professor De Maeseneer stated that
the essence prerogative was very timely and important
and highlighted that there was an opportunity for general
practice to show that there was space for GPs to be reflective
practitioners.
Information on the next steps of the Essence Initiative can be
found on the Future of Essence
webpage
Webpage Updated 21
July 2010