Health Education England
A collection of photographs from the people who work in general practice Photo challenge 2016
Introduction Sir Keith Pearson, Chair Health Education England This wonderful and unusual compilation of photographs offers a unique snapshot of life in general practice at the beginning of 2016. The challenge was simple - open to anyone who is ‘passionate about or works in primary care’. These pictures demonstrate the remarkable everyday – reception, the array of leaflets, (I wonder how many different ones there are?) signs and artwork on the surgery walls that are so familiar to many of us who have visited our local GP practice. By contrast there’s a reminder that we couldn’t manage without our tools of the trade, admin teams and of course our own special mug. Looking at this collection reminded me of the decisions that staff take routinely in one day are probably far more than most people take in a month. I had no idea we would tap into such creativity, the self-portraits and the ‘Fractured GP’ pictures that cleverly depict the current challenges facing the NHS reported on a daily basis in the media. Good to see the GP who was photographed making a film to be shown on practice TV’s. It was this image that prompted us to add a section in the back of the book to show how we have been working with some of our GP ambassadors and trainees who volunteered to be advocates of their profession and offer help and advice to medical students who may be thinking about career opportunities. May I extend my personal thanks to everyone who took the time and trouble to contribute to this initiative and to those of you who are looking through and enjoying!
The photographs you see in this book have been submitted by staff who wanted to demonstrate the unfamiliar or everyday items associated with life at work. There were no prizes, just the satisfaction of being a part of an online record and taking part
Foreword Professor Arthur Hibble cover photo
General practice, family medicine, primary care is about listening, sharing, caring, collaborating and learning. This is principally with our patients but also with our colleagues and in a reflective way with ourselves. Training and formal learning is at home in general practice and as a passionate clinical educator and amateur photographer I wanted to capture a moment of listening, sharing and learning. It could have been between any of the staff at this learning practice, it happens to be the doctor in training and her supervisor of the day. You see the modern technology of practice and pen and paper, the clinical environment with embedded family images and two committed clinicians preparing themselves for todays and tomorrow’s patients and practitioners.
Dr Gladys Obuzor GP featured in the photo
At the end of each surgery, I always look forward to the debrief where I share insights and learning from the wealth of experience of my trainers. These encounters bring my numerous ‘blind spots’ to light as a trainee and facilitate my experiential learning as my clinical decision making is analysed in a supportive and constructive manner. The morning captured in this photo was no exception and as an astute observer commented, my trainer for the day “does not miss a thing.” My learning went beyond patient care to effective organisation and time management and of course being technologically savvy too! Such is the beauty and diversity of general practice.
This picture is one of a series which I have done about what it feels like to be working under stress in general practice. It is in an Andy Warhol style, completed as part of my photography degree course.�
GP Partner
My self portrait
This was submitted by a practice nurse who wanted to share a lovely gift from an appreciative patient
I like to think of this photo as ‘surplus to requirement’ Practice nurse
Coffee breaks with a little bit of humour….
Team working
Practice receptionists, nurse, and doctors. Runners enjoy a deep tissue massage from the TICCS physio team and SBR massage at a sport relief event on 20th March 2016 after running 10k
This a photo of me making a short film about the importance of patient
And in my spare time‌. at base camp Mount
participation groups which will then be shown to patients on TV screens in GP clinics waiting rooms. It shows how 21st century GPs need to think differently about to promote their messages to patients.
Everest measuring my oxygen saturations.� Nurse practitioner
Clinical Commissioning Group GP
I took a photo of my bike at the surgery. I have been very fortunate to be able to do my visits on my bike. It is wonderful to get to know my locality from the bike seat and I feel like I am able to set a better example to our patients.� GP Registrar
The practice admin team at work
Things we see every day
My series of four photo’s illustrate a trainee GP learning in and for general practice
With her mentor
and GP with a patient
Some familiar posters
Patients have access to lots of information at our practice
Practice reception
Health Education England recruited a number of GPs and trainees across the country who wanted to help raise awareness and promote general practice as a career. Four volunteers agreed to be photographed and filmed for the ‘Nothing general about general practice’ campaign in 2016. We wanted to include a selection of some of the behind the scenes photographs. They weren’t entered as part of this challenge but hope you enjoy
Dr Duncan Shrewsbury being interviewed and filmed by the BBC as part of the 2016 campaign
A couple of patients at the practice where Duncan works wanted to help. They were filmed as part of the awareness campaign
Dr Phil Williams outside the practice where he works
He was photographed for campaign posters and flyers to support choosing GP as a career
Dr Kym Merritt outside the practice where she works
And with GP trainees at the University after a lecture. You can see them on the “There’s nothing general about general practice” Facebook page
GP Maryam Mownah with a patient also supporting our awareness campaign and featured on flyers and posters
Promoting general practice at a medical careers event at Manchester University
The joy of general practice is its infinite variety. You simply never know what you will be dealing with next. It could be a simple sore throat, a heart attack, a chest infection, a schizophrenic breakdown, a pregnancy or a con-vulsing child. Being a brain surgeon may be seen by some as a more glamorous career, but no other branch of medicine has the remarkable variety of general practice.� Royal College of General Practitioners