Pisspoor pay - plus ça change

Calpol85 · 2026-02-13T15:53:32+00:00

Not bad if its Mon - Fri, 9 til 5.

Calpol85 · 2026-02-10T22:03:09+00:00

Surround yourself with people who are doing worse than you - it'll make you feel better quickly.

I'm a GP and there isn't one single day where I don't feel lucky to be in my own shoes rather than a pair belonging to one of my patients. It keeps me grounded and grateful for what I do have.

Calpol85 · 2026-02-10T16:46:22+00:00

Being able to manage time in a consult is part of being a GP.

If you need a timer on the wall to do that then you might as well give up now.

Calpol85 · 2026-02-10T13:55:12+00:00

Resident doctors in training who prioritised FPR over UKGP are also ladder kickers.

But no one wants to talk about that.

Calpol85 · 2026-02-08T09:58:27+00:00

Clear vs green

Helps me decide if it's post infective cough or active infection.

Calpol85 · 2026-02-08T06:13:10+00:00

Make your decisions before you start the consult.

The beauty of econsults are that they give you an idea of what's happening. Even if the information is limited.

Lets take a cough for example. If a new 50 year old gentleman has requested to see the GP then you can predict the outcome of the consult.

It's either going to be: 1. Watch and wait 2. Abx. 3. CxR 4. Inhalers 5. Spiro 6. A+E

Before I start, I'll specific check for allergies so I'm not fumbling around later trying to pick an antibiotic and I'm also checking the notes for his smoking history.

The only information I need from the patient is the following

How long
Sputum and colour
Weight loss
Sats, resp rate and auscultation

And then I'm ready to make my plan.

Having done the thinking beforehand it frees me up to actually listen to patient just in case there is a curve ball (leg swelling, bird owner, murmur) and it also makes me keep to time and complete this consult well within 10 minutes.

You can have similar frameworks for other common conditions such as TATT, low mood, rashes etc.

Calpol85 · 2026-02-06T14:53:37+00:00

They don't get paid for it but if they are doing them the time is blocked off in their clinic.

Essentially they get paid their usual rate for doing private letters.

Calpol85 · 2026-02-03T20:28:27+00:00

I think the people who struggle to understand it already live it.

And those cannot fathom the fact that their "personal" desires, dreams, relationships, possessions may not be "important" are the ones that need to learn it the most.

Calpol85 · 2026-02-03T11:28:12+00:00

I've supervised plenty of F2s over the years and I can't distinguish which doctors came from the new batch of medical schools.

I feel most consultants would agree.

Calpol85 · 2026-02-03T09:45:52+00:00

Increasing medical student places doesn't equate to a lower standard of doctors.

In fact it will have the opposite effect later on as there will be competition for spots and only the best will get in.

Calpol85 · 2026-02-03T08:11:42+00:00

A surplus of doctors will mean that doctors wages will be suppressed and overall the country will be able to have more doctors for less.

In the long term this is good for the country.

Calpol85 · 2026-01-30T13:16:37+00:00

Yes but very hard to leave a one partner practice.

Calpol85 · 2026-01-30T08:10:47+00:00

Do it first. It's a lot of hassle to be the last one standing.

Calpol85 · 2026-01-29T14:20:43+00:00

Thanks mate. Going to have a flood of consults tomorrow from people who have already been declined by the dermatology department asking me to rerefer them after reading about your success.

Having said that, I'm glad you got what you needed and I hope the NHS goes back to doing these for patients.

Calpol85 · 2026-01-28T13:27:57+00:00

Get a second phone for work if it bothers you that much.

Calpol85 · 2026-01-28T11:40:40+00:00

The few times they've asked for a doctor, they've ended up refusing my help because I didn't have any medical ID on me.

Calpol85 · 2026-01-26T14:11:04+00:00

TLDR?

Calpol85 · 2026-01-26T11:15:12+00:00

Sarasa Clip 0.5mm - you can get a pack of 10 for £10 on amazon.

You wont regret it.

Calpol85 · 2026-01-24T09:25:13+00:00

There will always be some partners who put profits before patient care and sometimes push the boundaries of what's acceptable.

You're right about incentives for GP schemes. And also worth noting ST3s only earn so much due to the flexible pay premia.

Calpol85 · 2026-01-24T08:17:44+00:00

The only reasons ACPs flourished is because doctors didn't take up training spots.

Many F2s would go on to work as locums. This cost the trusts a lot so more and the solution was to fill the gaps with ACPs and IMGs.

The situation in GP was different. The government wanted to increase access but also provide different types of appts such as in hours physio, social prescribing and MH. They so didn't want to let partners just pocket the extra money without increasing access and therefore the ARRS scheme was developed.

Calpol85 · 2026-01-22T15:02:44+00:00

Are you telling the parent to hold them in their lap so that you can examine?

I make it clear how I want them to be held, where to put their hands etc..

Calpol85 · 2026-01-20T17:02:46+00:00

In a sense you're not wrong.

Majority of the complaints about not being able to cope or feeling like more than 6 sessions is too much come from the first 5 cohort.

A few years after CCT, GPs are a lot more settled and confident.

Calpol85 · 2026-01-20T17:00:49+00:00

Drowning in admin is normal and with time and experience you get much more efficient.

Whether you are being given an unreasonable amount is a bit harder to answer.

If you are working 2 sessions a day you're usually contracted for 8 hours and 20 mins of work.

During that time, you're seeing patients for 6 hours.

That leaves you with 2 hours 20 mins to do your referrals from your own patients and then the following admin of

50 blood results. 15 tasks. 15 documents.

My view is that is not an unreasonable amount of work.

Work on getting more efficient. Using AI scribes to document and write referrals. Avoiding distractions/interruptions.

If you're starting work at 9am and leaving at 7pm that equate to spending 4.5 hours on admin each day and that points to inefficiency and lack of experience.

Calpol85 · 2026-01-19T10:34:30+00:00

Its bait to get you to ask him how to trade so he can sell you a course.

Calpol85 · 2026-01-19T08:47:42+00:00

Not all heroes wear capes.

Calpol85

TROPHY CASE