Job Profile for General Practitioner in the United Kingdom

Hours: 52 per week

Starting Salary: £53,000+ per annum (equivalent to approximately $83,180 per annum)

This job is ideal for you if you have an interest in medicine and science as well as a strong desire to help people. General Practitioners (GPs) are primarily community orientated and are likely to provide medical care to the local public, such as diagnosis and treatment of infection, disease and other illnesses.

A completed degree in medicine is vitally to become a GP. After this, you will need to take and pass a foundation programme of general training which will last approximately two years. You will also need to complete a specialist programme of training prior to starting work as a General Practitioner.

The Work

As GP you are likely to see their patients in the clinic, but may sometimes be required to visit some of them at home. Each patient will have to be examined and an assessment of their situation will have to be undertaken, and it is likely that you will have to take action. Your work could also include:

• Undertaking minor surgery.
• Giving prescriptions for required medication.
• Diagnosing your patients.
• Advising patients.
• Referring patients to consultants or specialists.

Apart from medical duties you may also be expected to help run the practice and you may be carrying out such tasks as:

• Arranging support for your patients from physiotherapists and nurses.
• Writing letters and reports and keeping records of patients as well as other admin tasks.
• Taking further training programmes to hone skills in other areas of practice such as mental health issues.

Hours

As a full-time General Practitioner, you could work up to 52 hours a week, which could see you working on evenings and weekends. Due to the nature of work you may also have to work out of hours in relation to emergencies.

Wages

A GP on a full-time contract can expect to be earning between £53,781 and £81,158 per annum (approx. $84,390 and $127,372 per annum). Private GPs could earn between £80,000 and £120,000 ($125,560 and $188,341).

Figures used are only guidelines.

Currency conversions correct at the time of writing.

Entry Requirements

To start working as a General Practitioner you will need to have:

• A medicine degree that is certified and recognized by the General Medical Council.
• A foundation degree in general training that lasted 2 years.
• Specialist training in specialist practice.

Skills

• An interest in science and medicine.
• Leadership skills.
• The ability to supervise staff to a high standard.
• Compassion and responsibility.
• A desire to help people.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Practical examination skills.

Other Information

If you are a non-EU resident looking to work in the United Kingdom (or anywhere else in the European Union), please ensure you have the required legal documents to do so. For details on working in the United Kingdom for non-EU residents, you can find more information on the UK Border Agency website.