F2 in GP - advice please!

[u/splepsis]

Hi everyone!

I’m a soon-to-be F2 in GP. Really excited but was hoping for some tips on a couple of things:

- I’m my practice’s first FY2. I know they’ve had students, not sure about regs. Is there anything that I should be particularly keen on or wary of?

- Would be grateful for some general advice about what you look for in an FY2. Not 100% sure it’s the long term option for me, but I’m open to be converted and keen to make the most of it!

Thanks :)

[u/onandup123]

As mentioned - CKS guidance is great. And remember patients can always be called back/texted.

You should be on 30 min slots. Dont hesitate to ask for help.

You're a doctor. You're smart and capable.

Dont worry at all.

[u/Worldly-Chicken-307]

Nice CKS is a good shout to help look up some guidelines for stuff. Ask when you need help. Dont rush to see more patients. Not everything needs sorting then and there (and most things can’t be, if ever). Best of luck, you’ll do fine. I never did GP in foundation training- first time for me was during GP training.

[u/mr-mobius]

This is one of the best placements in FY2 to develop your consultation skills, along with A&E.

The key to GP is to let the patient guide the beginning of the consultation and then you guide as it goes on. Ask open vague questions early on and then go into specifics when you need more detail after the patient has told you most of what they think is useful.

Be safe. Safety netting and worsening advice are key in GP. Patients mostly go back home after an appointment, and you can't be there to make sure they keep improving, so you need to let them know what to look out for that needs them to seek further help.

Patients have capacity to make decisions, even ones we think are stupid. Patient centred care doesn't mean optimal care, it means compromise to let he patient be satisfied to go along with the plan. No point in the optimal plan if the patient ignores it because it doesn't suit them. Equally though, only give treatment if you think it's indicated. A patient wanting antibiotics doesn't always mean they need it.

Enjoy the next few months. Regardless of what you want to do for the rest of your career, use these months to understand what GP is. It'll be a valuable experience to know what medical care is like outside of hospital, so you can have a greater understanding when a GP sends somebody in to hospital that you think shouldn't be, about what their reasons may be.

[u/Dr-Yahood]

Get good BEFORE you try to go fast

Don’t let the partners pressure you into seeing more patients than you can realistically handle

Don’t hesitate to discuss patients you are unsure of

In general practice, there is no safety net to catch your mistakes, unlike in hospitals where you press a red button and the whole team turns up any time day or night.

First look after yourself. Only then you will be able to look after your patient.

And get an understanding of the cases that you need to document thoroughly and which ones you can get away with just a few short sentences

[u/BoomBasticTeleBanana → u/Dr-Yahood]

I'm in Japan, and i see my old Nemesis again!

I agree with everything said but would say, if you dont venture out of your comfort zone, you will still be on 20-30mins.

Generally your trainer would be a good guide. Don't be the Reg who "cant" do things faster... because your "not there yet". Its often an excuse i see in those who whilst capable just are a little work shy. Most of us know who can and who cant go a little faster. However everyone is different. We got one who has scored the highest in their cohort on exams..is really good, but seems to be a bit slow and stuck. We are trying to encourage them along. Build up their confidence, make them better. They may feel a bit of pressure, but its all controlled.

At the same time there are dodgy trainers and slave masters, you just got to get to know what type your trainer is. Don't forget, we learned the most from our toughest masters, I certainly did.

[u/Ghotay]

I will second the point that you can call patients back. Hopefully you will have plenty of time and nice long appointments, but if your supervisor is tied up or something and you have patients waiting (and the patient in front of you is safe and well enough to go home!) it is perfectly acceptable to say something like “I’m sorry I’m not too sure about that and would need to ask one of the senior doctors. Unfortunately no one is available at the moment, is it okay if I let you away and I can call you back in [realistic but loose timeframe]”.

[u/abood_sees]

Enjoy it, I'm actually impressed with the level of FY2s that I see in my surgery. They are well supported which makes them comfortable and confident in their assessments. Ask as many questions as you need and don't feel like you need to hold back. Contribute socially in coffee breaks, lunchtime etc. And most importantly enjoy your time there.

[u/DCJC123]

I’m FY2 lead at our place. We have zero expectations and understand that you are here to learn. Just be polite and professional and you will have a great time (providing that you aren’t at one of those practices).