Established GPs

We want to ensure that your life after clinical practice continues to be rewarding. If you're considering leaving general practice, support is available through the National GP Retention Scheme. The scheme is a package of financial and educational support to help doctors, in England, who might otherwise leave the profession, remain in clinical general practice.

The scheme is open to doctors who meet ALL of the following criteria:

1. Where a doctor is seriously considering leaving or has left general practice (but is still on the National Medical Performers List) due to:
   1. personal reasons – such as caring responsibilities for family members (children or adults) or personal health reasons OR
   2. approaching retirement OR
   3. requiring greater flexibility in order to undertake other work either within or outside of general practice
2. And when a regular part-time role does not meet the doctor’s need for flexibility, for example the requirement for short clinics or annualised hours.
3. And where there is a need for additional educational supervision. For example, a newly qualified doctor needing to work 1-4 sessions a week due to caring responsibilities or those working only 1-2 sessions where pro rata study leave allowance is inadequate to maintain continuing professional development and professional networks.

At the RCGP your wellbeing is always a top priority. If you are considering taking a career break from general practice or you are returning to practice in the UK after a period away, the BMA have a web page dedicated to providing career break advice for GPs.

It is possible to enter or return to NHS general practice later in your career or after a period of retirement.

The NHS GP Induction and Refresher (I&R) Scheme is designed to provide a safe, supported and direct route for qualified GPs to join or return to NHS general practice.

The scheme can be tailored to meet your needs, experiences and personal commitments and also includes financial support. It is available to:

• UK trained GPs returning to the UK from working or volunteering abroad
• UK trained GPs taking a gap of over two years from clinical work as NHS GP
• GPs from abroad

If you are seriously considering leaving general practice, support is available through the National GP Retention Scheme - a package of financial and educational support to help doctors, in England, who might otherwise leave the profession, remain in clinical general practice.

The scheme is open to doctors who meet ALL of the following criteria:

1. Where a doctor is seriously considering leaving or has left general practice (but is still on the National Medical Performers List) due to:
   1. Personal reasons – such as caring responsibilities for family members (children or adults) or personal health reasons OR
   2. Approaching retirement OR
   3. Require greater flexibility in order to undertake other work either within or outside general practice.
2. And when a regular part-time role does not meet the doctor’s need for flexibility, for example the requirement for short clinics or annualised hours.
3. And where there is a need for additional educational supervision. For example, a newly qualified doctor needing to work 1-4 sessions a week due to caring responsibilities or those working only 1-2 sessions where pro rata study leave allowance is inadequate to maintain continuing professional development and professional networks.

Leaving the Performers' List

Care should be given when changing your status on the GMC register and giving up or restoring your licence to practice or registration. If you provide medical services you need a licence to practice - this may include jobs that do not involve direct patient contact. It is important to check the GMC guidelines and seek advice from your current responsible officer before giving up your licence.

Coming off the Performers' List can be much easier than getting back on. If there is any chance at all that you will wish to see patients in the future, consider remaining as a locum whilst you think about your options. The decision-making process may be difficult so discussions with friends, colleagues, your appraiser or LMC may be helpful.

Primary Care Support England's Performers' Lists' webpage provides further information.

Making a change

To change your status (e.g. from locum to salaried), registered address or place of work on the Performers List, download the National Performers Lists change notification form.

A guidance document is available from NHS England: Supporting doctors who undertake a low volume of NHS general practice clinical work. This includes information on appraisals and the form to complete if you are undertaking less than 40 NHS GP sessions per year.

This is a scheme supported by national funding, delivered by ICSs/STPs, aimed at supporting GPs through creating an opportunity to develop mentoring skills, and to working in a different way. The overarching aim is to retain experienced GPs working in primary care through creating this portfolio working opportunity, while supporting less experienced GPs through high quality mentoring.

Commitment: Three clinical sessions and one mentoring session per week, with mentoring training leading to mentoring qualification.

For more details about local availability, check with your local PCN.

Supporting Mentors Scheme Guidance for 2020/21 from NHS England

The National Association of Sessional GPs provide information and support to those working as locum GPs.

The key resource for information and advice on pensions is the BMA pensions web pages.

Dr Jude DANBY FRCGP (she/her)

Chair, Later Career and Retired Members Group, RCGP

"I was a GP in Bradford and Calderdale for 30 years, retiring from clinical practice after the pandemic. 

"I have acquired many hats, including GP Trainer, Appraiser, LMC and CCG roles. I found it hard to take hats off and continue to identify as a GP during her retirement journey. I value having the RCGP as a professional home.

"As LCARM chair, I work within our college to develop resources to support a gentle and kind retirement journey for us all."

• Dr David Rapley - Midland lead

David qualified as a GP in 1980, becoming MRCGP in 1984 and was a partner at the Castle Medical Centre in Kenilworth from 1985 to 2018. He achieved Fellowship in 2002 and for the last three years was Associate Dean for GP training in Coventry and Warwickshire. He has been on the Midland faculty board, since 1989, first becoming Honorary Secretary, then Faculty Chair from 2011 and Provost in 2022.

Having been a GP tutor, trainer and TPD, his main interest is medical education and as LCARM rep for the Midlands, feels it important to oversee what is happening in the profession.

• Dr Julian Marsden - Beds and Herts lead

Julian was a GP in Luton for 35 years and is now retired. Having previously been Chair and Provost of the faculty, he remains on its board. He was a GP trainer and was Training Programme Director for the Luton GP Training Scheme and currently supports refugee doctors trying to pass PLAB en route to gaining GMC registration.

• Dr Marilyn Horner - Vale of Trent co-lead

Marilyn started off as a Botanist before studying medicine as a postgraduate and in her career was a GP trainer, appraiser, APD, Faculty Provost and, most importantly, a GP at Castle Donnington for over 25 years. She is now clinically retired but very much enjoyed returning as an ERP during the pandemic. She is currently involved in various mentoring schemes, including supporting mentors in the NHSE/HEE New to Practice programme which keeps her in touch with the issues affecting younger GPS.

• Dr Jane Selwyn - Vale of Trent co-lead

Jane spent 27 years as a full-time Partner in a teaching practice in Newark, the last 8 years of which were as Senior Partner. Additional roles included: Medical Director of the Newark OOH Co-operative, GP Tutor and F2 Clinical Supervisor, Mid Notts CCGs GP Governing Body Member and Clinical Lead for Safeguarding, CYP and Maternity. She retired in 2018 but returned, under ERP status, to full-time work within the Nottinghamshire Covid-19 Vaccination Programme in December 2020, initially as a GP Lead but now as joint Medical Director. Prior to her shared role as LCARM representative, she previously served as Honorary Secretary to the VOT Faculty.

• Dr Lucy Henshall - East Anglia lead

Lucy has been on a southeasterly trajectory for over forty years – native to Northern Ireland, she achieved her MbChB in Sheffield, before completing her VTS and Locum in South Lincolnshire. Settling in coastal Suffolk in 1993, she savoured the golden years of GP Partnership with her husband, also a GP.

Awarded Fellowship in 2015, Lucy was a nationally elected member of RCGP Council from 2019 to 2022 and Clinical Lead for East of England for NHS Practitioner Health between 2017 and 2022. In addition, she ran the East Anglia faculty’s “Reflective Writing Course for GPs” for fifteen years, fueling a love of writing.

• Vacant role - Leicester lead

• Dr Michal Greville - North East London lead

I have been a practicing GP for more than 40 years. I have been a trainer since 1985 and joined what is now HEE as an associate director in 1994 and have had the privilege through that appointment of working in Georgia and being secretary of UKCEA. I am also a long serving LMC representative. I have been faculty chairman and provost. I am still working as a part time GP trainer.

• Dr Ian Jutting - South East Thames lead

Ian was a GP senior partner and GP trainer in Tonbridge, Kent for 28 years before retiring in 2015. He is a faculty board member and Later Career and Retired Members Lead.

• Dr Mona Aquilina - South London lead

GP partner in Lewisham 30 years and GP trainer. Retired from clinical practice 2017. Returned as clinician to help with COVID-19 pandemic 2020. Current roles-Tutor, Building Bridges London, supporting refugee doctors to restart their careers; Mentor to NHS professionals. Hon Secretary, Lewisham BMA division.

• Sam Samartunga - South West Thames lead

I qualified as a GP, but changed careers to work in and with the healthcare sector in a number of varied roles. I have been a member of the RCGP and Board Member of the SW Thames Faculty for 25 years and am currently the Education Lead and the LCARM Lead for the SW Thames Faculty. I am particularly keen on encouraging more Later Career GPs to join the LCARM group.

• Dr. Ann Howard - Thames Valley Faculty Lead

I was a principal in General Practice for 30 fulfilling years, embracing fundholding, personal medical services and numerous organisational changes. Somehow I was able to schedule time to undertake other roles including MK GP Appraisal Lead, HEE TV Induction & Refresher Scheme Lead, & Clinical Methods Block Lead (delivering consultation skills teaching based in primary care) at the University of Buckingham Medical School. I have now retired from clinical general practice, recently I have accepted an appointment as a Medical Examiner at Northampton General Hospital, opening an exciting new chapter of professional development.

• Dr Linda Miller - North and West London Lead

A portfolio GP since 1996, Linda was a deanery GP tutor and is now a medical educator across the spectrum from undergraduate (Imperial, QMUL) through postgraduate (UCL) to peri-retirement appraisals. Linda coaches doctors for the Professional Support Unit, (HEE, since 2008), Faculty of Medical Coaches, and NHS Leadership Academy. In her spare time, collaborating with artists and performers she facilitates wellbeing and reflective practice workshops. These combine coaching with the arts and humanities and form the practice part of her practice-led Medical Humanities Ph.D. at Birkbeck. She champions social prescribing of Arts in Health (RCGP SIG).

• Dr Krishnakant Buch - Essex lead

After obtaining his MRCGP, MSc in General Practice &DTM&H, Krishnakant had invaluable experience in hospital for five years in India and a further five in the UK. Having served the community of Salford for 30 years as a GP, he retired in 2017. After resettling in Basildon, he joined the RCGP Essex Faculty Board. He has always been interested in lifelong learning and considers his time working as a GP Tutor for undergrads and GP Trainer to be invaluable to his career. Now a part of  ‘SALFORD Lung Study’, he also enjoys reading, walking and wrote the article ‘Experiential Learning’ in BJGP Life.

• Alan Fortune - North East England lead

Alan is currently North East Faculty Board Provost and LCARM rep. He has been a GP in Alnwick for over thirty years, with special interest in obstetrics and gynaecology. He is a past examiner for RCGP. His other interests include climbing mountains and hills, vegetable gardening, and supporting Newcastle United.

• Dr Jude Danby - Yorkshire co-lead covering West Yorkshire

Qualifying in North London, Jude moved to Yorkshire in search of a sustainable lifestyle, going on to enjoy multicultural practice as a GP partner for 27 years in Bradford. Post-partnership, she offered long term locums to sustain colleagues needing a break. Hats included Trainer, Appraiser, Mentor and LMC, calling out the illusion of choice and promoting equitable funding. Having retired from clinical practice after COVID, Jude is now a Fellow of the college working to support GPs in their later career and help smooth the slope to retirement.

• Dr Ed Bylina - Yorkshire co-lead - covering West Yorkshire

Ed has worked in the NHS for about 40 years, a GP in Calderdale for 28 years, was also a GP trainer, LMC member, endoscopist and prescribing lead, not all at once. Yorkshire Faculty Board member since 2017, LCARM lead for last 4 years. Covid vaccinator Jan-Dec 2021, in his old practice. He is passionate about the NHS but worried about the lack of investment and the care of its staff. Beyond general practice, Ed is keen on photography, music, walking, travel and gardening.

• Dr Farhat Ahmed - Humber and the Ridings co-lead

After studying Medicine in Pakistan, Farhat moved to UK and took the PLAB exam in 1997 and MRCGP in 2008, training in Hull VTS and worked in Yorkshire. Joining as a partner in Hull in 2005, they became GP trainer and Honorary Clinical tutor with Hull York Medical School. While having enjoyed being a generalist, they especially enjoyed how fulfilling and gratifying the role of teacher and trainer was. Following revalidation in October 2022, Farhat continues to work as a locum.

• Dr John Rey - Humber and the Ridings co-lead

John worked as a GP partner near Scarborough for over 30 years. Other roles included undergraduate tutor, GP trainer, training programme director, hospital practitioner in Rheumatology and tutor for Arthritis Research UK.

Since retiring in 2021 he has enjoyed spending more time cycling, woodworking, hillwalking, gardening, travelling and spending time with family. His interest in LCARM lies in helping GPs transition to retirement and, for those that wish to continue some work, enabling them to do so without necessarily giving a regular commitment.

• Ashley Liston - Cumbria lead
• Vacant lead role - South Yorkshire North Trent
• Vacant lead role - North West England lead
• Vacant lead role - Mersey

Please contact your local faculty to enquire about this vacant LCARM lead role.

• Dr John Kevin O’Kelly FRCGP - Northern Ireland lead

John was a principal in Aberfoyle Medical Practice, Derry from January 1995 until retirement in June 2022. Having chaired the Western Area Respiratory Group, he was also a member of the Northern Ireland Regional Respiratory Forum, a project member in the development of the Respiratory Health and Wellbeing Framework and worked with various respiratory voluntary groups in Northern Ireland.

In addition, he was a former member of the Primary Care Clinical Management Group, Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network, chaired the Quality Committee for the Royal College of General Practice in Northern Ireland (RCGPNI) and was Chair of RCGP NI from 2013-2016.

• Vacant - Republic of Ireland lead

• Vacant - Rural lead

• Dr Elaine McNaughton - East Scotland lead (escotland@rcgp.org.uk)

After 35 years as Partner and GP Trainer in Carnoustie, Elaine (nearly) retired in 2021 and is interested in experiences of later career GPs. She is undergraduate lecturer at Dundee School of Medicine and continues doing locums. She is past Chair and Provost of East Scotland Faculty and previous Deputy Chair RCGP Scotland. She has represented Scottish Council on national policy and UK Council on GPSAC.

Previously a GP Associate Advisor and TPD, her research interests were innovative training, multi-source feedback, enhanced SEA and career choice. Elaine was awarded an MBE in the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Honours for services to General Practice and GP Training in Scotland.

• Dr Sharon Russell - West Scotland lead (wscotland@rcgp.org.uk)

After training in rural Argyll, Sharon became a GP trainer in an urban Lanarkshire practice. She was a GMC Fitness to Practice Assessor for ten years and spent the COVID years as AMD in Lanarkshire H&SCO where her remit included Primary Care. Taking her long planned for, slightly delayed, early retirement at the end of 2022, she remains a CPD Associate Advisor for NHS Education Scotland.

Her interests include; the impact of social inequality on health, teaching, and promotion of Fellowship among incredibly resilient coalface colleagues.

• Vacant LCARM lead role - North East Scotland lead
• Vacant LCARM lead role - North Scotland lead
• Vacant LCARM lead role - South East Scotland lead

• Dr Graham Rawlinson - Severn lead

We recognise there is a need for inclusion of all our GPs facing a change in their careers or who have already retired, not just members.
We have much to contribute within and outside the profession and I hope we can support you and act as a network for everyone to keep in touch and find out what opportunities there are for a change of role.

• Dr Baljit S Kalsi - Tamar lead

I have been a GP and member of the RCGP for some 30 fulfilling years now, and for the past 15 years I have also been working as a Specialist Children’s Hospice doctor. Beyond this work, I have enjoyed more active roles in the educational aspects of the profession, working as a university tutor, examiner, GP trainer and being responsible for the education of all staff in our practice. A few years ago, I was honoured to receive a Fellowship award and now as I reach this stage of my career, I feel compelled to accompany and empower other doctors and hope to mentor and support them as they move forward in their own careers.

• Vacant lead role - Wessex

Please contact your local Faculty to enquire about this vacant LCARM lead role.

Wales LCARM lead

• North Wales - vacant
• South West Wales - vacant
• Dr Andrew Cooper - South East Wales lead

A GP in Cardiff for 32 years and now retired from clinical practice in 2019, Andrew was a Programme Director in the Wales Deanery, for many years and has worked for the RCGP as a MRCGP Examiner and MAP Assessor. Since retiring from clinical practice, he has worked as an Adviser and Deputy Lead for the RCGP Practice Development Team. In addition, he was previously Provost, Chairman and Central Council Rep of the South East Wales Faculty.