What GP services should or could look like

A story to answer Mark’s comment

Writing on behalf of Albert.

Albert (not his real name) was a classically trained GP. Albert did three hospital specialities in 18 months and another 18 months in primary care. All supervised.

After that, he was given his own family hospital (FH) to run. This was a small two-ward, 8-bed structure with accommodation for his welfare officer and three midwives, as well as a surgery, waiting room, kitchen, sundry utility areas, and a resident cleaner/cook.

From the FH, Albert ran clinics, welfare consultations and did ante, intra and postnatal care in a now defunct role called GP obstetrician. Albert was qualified to do this because one of the six months of houseman hospital jobs in the training period was at the maternity and gynaecology units of his local district hospital. The units were extremely busy, and Albert learned quickly how to diagnose a miscarriage from a still viable pregnancy and how to assist and perform laparoscopic gynaecological procedures. He got a certificate of compete…