How I agree with Roger Jones’ insightful editorial.1 The NHS has experienced an artificial (but nonetheless increasing) divide between primary and secondary care for nearly a quarter of a century now. A parlance has evolved which incorporates concepts such as ‘spend’ ‘provider’ and ‘activity’. It is regrettable that a whole generation of young medical and nursing staff don’t know any different.
Prior to leaving general practice a year ago I crossed the primary/secondary care divide for 1 day a week working as a GP with special interest in acute medicine. It was soon apparent that not only did staff in emergency departments speak negatively about ‘the GP’ or ‘the community’ but neither had they the slightest idea what went on outside their establishment. Surprisingly perhaps the converse was also true: hospital practice has changed out of all proportion since many of us were juniors.
I still believe that being a GP is a wonderful career and things can only go upwards. However it is no coincidence that the most common question I was asked by junior hospital doctor colleagues and those that I trained was how to become a GPwSI in acute medicine.
- © British Journal of General Practice 2014
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