10 minute consultation: Dr Selvaseelan Selvarajah

Dr Selvaseelan Selvarajah is a GP partner at St Andrews Health Centre in Bromley-by-Bow, and RCGP Council member.

Why did you choose to be a GP?

I originally planned a career in hospitals. Then a more senior doctor told me to consider general practice because I love chatting to people and finding out their stories. It turned out to be the best piece of advice.

What's the best thing about being a GP?

Continuity of care; seeing babies I did the six-week check for becoming teenagers.

What's the most frustrating thing about being a GP?

We deal with 1.4 million patients a day, but receive a dwindling portion of NHS budget. It feels like the government doesn’t value GP services enough. They say positive things, but action needs to follow words.

What are you most proud of in your career?

First, being GP partner at a practice with core mission to build healthy communities. Second, becoming a GP trainer and training programme director, and watching GP registrars go on to build great careers. Finally, getting involved with the College, helping to maintain standards for the profession and looking for solutions to the big issues we face.

What has been the most important lesson you have learnt during your career?

Listen to patients. You might be the best doctor in the world, but if you don’t know how to communicate with the person in front of you, you’re not going to get the best outcome.

What is the biggest challenge for current GPs?

GP specialty training needs to be deeper and broader to suit what a modern GP does – but there’s a limit to what can be done in a three-year programme. Also, we’re investing in medical students, but the current lack of jobs means we’re losing people to opportunities overseas.

What challenges are specific to London?

Any inner-city practice will face challenges such as health inequality, poverty, housing instability, and rising obesity. It all leads to a population getting sicker younger. It’s frustrating that the GP contract doesn’t recognise deprivation as a funding factor.

Why do you think it's important to be a College member?

I’ve been a member since I was a GP registrar, it's my professional home. When you get involved, you see how much work is being done. But the College is only as strong as its members, so if you think something needs to improve, you need to get involved.

What would you be if you weren't a GP?

I’ve always had a strong interest in history, so I’d probably be teaching GCSE history.