Why You Should Have a Special Interest as a GP

As I write this blog post, I’d like to take a moment to reintroduce myself to those who are visiting my website for the first time.

My name is Okiemute, but everyone calls me Mute (pronounced MU-TAY). I’m an international medical graduate and now a fully qualified GP, working in primary care in the south of England. Alongside my role as a GP, I have a special interest in women’s health and hold a professional diploma in this area. I’ve also trained to fit contraceptive coils. On the side, I run BerrysMotivation, an inspirational platform aimed at supporting healthcare professionals. What started as a hobby has gradually grown into an entrepreneurial venture, and I’m excited to continue exploring this path.

The reason I decided to write this blog post is to encourage fellow GPs to not only develop a special interest but also to learn an additional skill. We are all aware of the challenges currently facing GPs, and I believe that upskilling can help us continue to deliver the best care to our patients.

Having a special interest as a GP is highly beneficial, both for patient care and personal growth. The day-to-day demands of primary care can be intense and sometimes exhausting. In some cases, GPs may find themselves becoming less proficient in areas they don’t encounter often. Specializing in a particular field allows us to deepen our knowledge and expertise, enabling us to offer more comprehensive and informed care.

Here’s why having a special interest is valuable, with a focus on some common areas of specialization:

1. Enhanced Patient Care

• Deepened Expertise: Developing a special interest allows GPs to gain a deeper understanding of specific fields, whether it’s dermatology, women's health, or cardiology. This enhanced expertise enables us to make more accurate diagnoses and provide tailored treatment plans. It also offers a refreshing change from routine tasks when dealing with cases that align with our specialization.
• Improved Diagnosis and Treatment: For instance, a GP with a special interest in ophthalmology or musculoskeletal health can offer more precise care for patients with complex conditions, reducing the need for specialist referrals and ensuring continuity of care. Additionally, it enhances our understanding of the specialized treatments patients may receive in secondary care, making shared care smoother and more effective.
• Holistic Approach: Special interests in areas like mental health or palliative care enable GPs to address the emotional, psychological, and end-of-life needs of patients, offering holistic care that extends beyond physical symptoms. With the rising aging population and increasing mental health cases in the UK, these areas are particularly important.

2. Professional Development

• Continuous Learning: Specializing encourages ongoing education, keeping GPs up-to-date with the latest research and best practices in areas like pediatrics or education. This commitment to learning keeps us engaged and enhances our clinical skills.
• Recognition and Leadership: A GP with a special interest in women’s health or mental health can become a recognized expert within their community, leading initiatives, conducting workshops, and mentoring younger doctors. This leadership can influence healthcare practices and policies more broadly.

3. Increased Job Satisfaction

• Variety in Practice: Incorporating a special interest such as dermatology or cardiology into daily practice adds variety to a GP’s routine, helping to prevent burnout and maintain enthusiasm.
• Greater Fulfillment: Working in an area of special interest, whether it’s palliative care or musculoskeletal health, often leads to greater job satisfaction. Seeing tangible improvements in patient outcomes can be deeply rewarding, reinforcing our sense of purpose.

4. Patient Retention and Trust

• Building Trust: Patients tend to trust and feel more confident in a GP with a recognized special interest, especially if it aligns with their health needs. For example, women may prefer a GP with expertise in women’s health, while parents might seek out a GP with a focus on pediatrics.
• Increased Patient Loyalty: Offering specialized services, such as in ophthalmology or mental health, can lead to stronger patient relationships. Patients appreciate the convenience and continuity of receiving specialized care from a trusted GP, fostering long-term loyalty.

5. Career Opportunities

• Expanded Career Pathways: Specializing opens up diverse career opportunities. A GP with an interest in education might pursue roles in academia or medical education, while those specializing in pediatrics or dermatology could engage in research or consultancy. One of the beauties of general practice is the flexibility it offers to diversify, explore, and pursue different fields of interest.
• Networking Opportunities: Specialization often leads to networking with other specialists, which can be beneficial for career growth and collaborative projects. For example, a GP with a special interest in cardiology might work closely with cardiologists, attend conferences, and participate in workshops, thereby enhancing their knowledge and skills.

6. Contribution to the Healthcare System

• Reducing Pressure on Secondary Care: By managing more complex cases within primary care, GPs with special interests in areas like musculoskeletal health or mental health can help reduce the burden on secondary and tertiary care services. This keeps more patients in the community and ensures that specialist resources are reserved for the most complex cases.
• Improving Healthcare Access: Specializing can improve access to specific services, particularly in underserved or rural areas. A GP with a focus on palliative care or women’s health can provide essential services that might otherwise be unavailable locally, contributing to better public health outcomes. I recently saw a patient who had waited nearly five months to have her coil fitted. Fortunately, I had just completed my coil training and was able to fit her into my clinic, reducing her wait time and granting her timely access to the care she needed.

Common Areas of GP Special Interest:

1. Dermatology: Focus on skin conditions, offering specialized care for common and complex dermatological issues.
2. Women’s Health: Expertise in reproductive health, contraception, menopause, and other female-specific health concerns.
3. Ophthalmology: Specialization in eye health, providing care for conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and vision issues.
4. Cardiology: Advanced knowledge in heart health, managing conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, and arrhythmias.
5. Education: Commitment to teaching and mentoring, improving the quality of healthcare through education and training.
6. Musculoskeletal Health: Special interest in conditions affecting the muscles, bones, and joints, such as arthritis and sports injuries.
7. Mental Health: Focus on psychological well-being, treating conditions like depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders.
8. Palliative Care: Expertise in providing compassionate care for patients with life-limiting illnesses, focusing on quality of life and symptom management.
9. Pediatrics: Specialized care for children, from infancy through adolescence, addressing both common and complex pediatric conditions.

In conclusion, having a special interest as a GP not only enhances patient care and professional fulfillment but also contributes positively to the healthcare system. By focusing on a particular area, GPs can provide more comprehensive, effective, and satisfying care, benefiting both themselves and their patients.