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Senior is right to champion minor illnesses in general practice1 but overlooks their educational value to students and trainees.2 Minor illnesses offer rich learning in the form of delicate communication, focused examination, de-medicalisation, self-care, safety netting and the art of reassurance.2 Importantly, managing minor illnesses illustrates ‘holding patient care in general practice’,3 i.e. without excessive investigation or onward referral. Total triage, however, is driving minor illnesses away from learners and towards AI-assisted online management, community pharmacists and paramedics. This is a missed opportunity, especially for UK students whose Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) promotes over-investigation and referral.4
Minor illnesses also capture the essence of apprenticeship learning. Without the guiding hand of an experienced GP supervisor, students/trainees will substitute the art of consulting2,5 for defensive, protocol-driven care. This has implications for demand, staff wellbeing and sustainability.4 We call for consulting in minor illnesses to be recognised within the MLA as core learning in well-judged restraint and recognising the wide range of clinical normality.3,5 Valuing minor illnesses remains essential to reversing the undergraduate curriculum drift from generalism to specialist/technological care.4
Refer...
References
1. Senior T. There’s no such thing as minor illness. Br J Gen Pract 2026; 76(767): 277. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp26X745857. 2. Cooper, M., Fernandes, C., & Heath, J. Simulated consultation assessment, physical examination and the ‘art of delivering reassurance.’ Educ Prim Care 2026; 37(1): 60–61. DOI: 10.1080/14739879.2025.2562485. 3. Cooper, M., Fernandes, C., & Heath, J. Art of “holding patient care in general practice” is key to survival of the NHS. BMJ 2025; 388 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.r546 4. Cooper, M. The ‘law of curriculum drift from generalism to specialism’: addressing the ‘generalist deficit’ in undergraduate teaching. Educ Prim Care 2026; 1–4. DOI: 10.1080/14739879.2026.2646891. 5. Cooper, M. J. Demonstrating the therapeutic value of physical examination and the art of reassurance to undergraduate medical students. Educ Prim Care 2026 (Epub ahead of print). DOI: 10.1080/14739879.2026.2673586.
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British Journal of General Practice
