08 • Careers


MAKING A


POSITIVE F


GPs working in urology can help improve patients’ lives and reduce referrals


OR many people, the field of urology conjures up images of endless consultations about men and their prostates. But this varied specialty offers so much more – and not just for hospital specialists.


More and more GPs are developing an


interest in this area, often working in community clinics assessing, diagnosing and devising care plans for a variety of common urological conditions such as kidney, bladder or urinary tract problems. Taking the pressure off secondary care, such services can dramatically reduce both waiting times and patient anxiety. GPs who develop an interest in this area can


undertake a variety of roles in hospital or community settings or in educating fellow GPs.


IMPACT


New framework The Royal College of GPs recently launched a new framework for GPs with extended roles (GPwERs), the new term for GPs with a special interest (GPwSIs). It states: “Since the dissolution of Primary


Care Trusts in 2013 there has been no consistent process in England for the accreditation of GPwERs/GPwSIs. “The RCGP is trialling GPwER accreditation


in dermatology and skin surgery, and subject to the outcome of the trial we will seek to phase in accreditation in a limited number of other priority areas. For now, we advise GPs to follow the generic framework and contact providers and commissioners to understand local requirements.”


Q&A – Dr Jon Rees, GP with a special interest in urology, founder and chair of the Primary Care Urology Society


What attracted you to a career in urology? I have to admit, I hadn’t given urology a second thought as a medical student or as a house officer – no lifelong passion to help people pass urine better for me! I did my first urology job as an SHO, starting a surgical rotation at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton. I worked for two fantastic consultants – Ru MacDonagh and Mark Speakman – and the enjoyment of urology came from my time working for them. I subsequently worked for Ru MacDonagh


as his research fellow, spending three years on my MD thesis, looking at the effect of prostate


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