Skip to main content
The BMJ logoLink to The BMJ
. 1995 May 20;310(6990):1301–1304. doi: 10.1136/bmj.310.6990.1301

GPs in principle but not in practice: a study of vocationally trained doctors not currently working as principals.

M Baker 1, J Williams 1, R Petchey 1
PMCID: PMC2549680  PMID: 7773045

Abstract

OBJECTIVES--To identify doctors who are vocationally trained but not currently practising as principals in general practice; their reasons for not practising as principals; and whether the prospect of a re-entry course would appear to this group. DESIGN--Postal questionnaire survey based on semistructured interviews. SUBJECTS--Doctors who had been vocationally trained but were not currently practising as principals: 351 possible subjects identified by a process of "networking." SETTING--Trent Regional Health Authority. RESULTS--166 of the doctors who replied fitted the criteria (100 women; 66 men). The out of hours commitment was ranked as the most important factor for not practising as a principal--95 women and 50 men rated it important--followed by difficulty in combining work with family commitments--84 women, 31 men. 82 respondents (49%) said they would be interested in a re-entry course if one were available. CONCLUSIONS--There is a pool of vocationally trained doctors in Trent region who are not practising as principals in general practice. More flexible working patterns and the availability of a re-entry course could make the post of principal in general practice a more attractive proposition to these doctors.

Full text

PDF
1301

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Donald A. G. Retreat from general practice. BMJ. 1990 Nov 10;301(6760):1060–1060. doi: 10.1136/bmj.301.6760.1060. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Osler K. Employment experiences of vocationally trained doctors. BMJ. 1991 Sep 28;303(6805):762–764. doi: 10.1136/bmj.303.6805.762. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Parkhouse J., Ellin D. J. Reasons for doctors' career choice and change of choice. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1988 Jun 11;296(6637):1651–1653. doi: 10.1136/bmj.296.6637.1651. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Richardson R., Hurwitz B. Joseph Rogers and the reform of workhouse medicine. BMJ. 1989 Dec 16;299(6714):1507–1510. doi: 10.1136/bmj.299.6714.1507. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Sutherland V. J., Cooper C. L. Job stress, satisfaction, and mental health among general practitioners before and after introduction of new contract. BMJ. 1992 Jun 13;304(6841):1545–1548. doi: 10.1136/bmj.304.6841.1545. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Villar R. Problems of total hip replacement. Practitioner. 1990 Feb 8;234(1482):101–104. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from BMJ : British Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES