RCGP Somewhere in Between: Recent Episodes
Royal College of General Practitioners
Somewhere in Between is the RCGP's early careers podcast, for AiTs and First5 GPs alike, where we discuss what’s new and provide a chance to share your views as we navigate the journey somewhere in between trainee and GP.
The Somewhere in Between team:
Dr Hatim Abdulhussein (@Dr_Hatz (https://twitter.com/Dr_Hatz) ) – ST3 and RCGP AiT Rep North West London Faculty
Dr Meera Kumar (@DrMeeraKumar (https://twitter.com/DrMeeraKumar) ) – ST3 and RCGP AiT Rep South London Faculty
Dr Johannes Driessen (@doc_driessen (https://twitter.com/doc_driessen?lang=en) ) - ST3 (Academic) and RCGP AiT Rep South London Faculty
Brought to you by the Royal College of General Practitioners. Opinions stated in episodes are those of the hosts and their guests, and not those of the RCGP.
Meera, Johannes and LJ welcome the 2023 intake of new Associates in Training (AiTs), and offer some advice on how to make the most of your time in GP training.
If you'd like to get involved with the podcast, or just get in touch with the guys, you can do so at podcast.rcgp@gmail.com.
Kim speaks to Dr Liam Loftus, Co-Founder of The Big GP Consultation, about his journey in medical leadership. He discusses how any medical professional who wants to make a difference can become a leader, and how you might be able to get started.
You can find out more about TBGPC at https://thebiggpconsultation.co.uk.
This is the second of two episodes recorded a little while ago, so one or two references may now be slighted out of date. The guys are working on some new content coming to you very soon, so keep an eye on your podcast feeds!
Dr Stephen Willott talks about his experience of specialising in drug and alcohol misuse, and explains why all GPs should make sure they know how to deal with patients suffering with a damaging addiction.
This episode was recorded earlier this year, which means that the Managing Drug and Alcohol Problems in Primary Care Conference has unfortunately already come and gone. However, details for the 2024 conference will be released in due course.
The BBC programme 'I'm an Alcoholic' can be found at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001fyzd.
The College has a number of resources on drug and alcohol abuse, available at https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk.
If you have been personally affected by drug and/or alcohol abuse, please do reach out to your GP, or contact one of many excellent organisations listed at https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/recreational-drugs-alcohol-and-addiction/drug-and-alcohol-addiction-useful-contacts.
Two months overdue (blame Producer Bryn), we bring you a conversation with the new RCGP Chair of UK Council, Professor Kamila Hawthorne. Hatim, Johannes and Kim talk to Kamila about her fascinating route through general practice, her passion for addressing health inequalities, and her plans for her term in office.
If there is anything you'd like to hear the guys cover in a future episode, you can get in touch at podcast.rcgp@gmail.com.
Kim, in her debut Somewhere in Between interview, chats to Paul O'Reilly, a partner at The Doctor Hickey Surgery, the UK's biggest practice specialising in care for homeless people. They discuss how the work can be challenging but incredibly interesting and rewarding, as well as how to provide a better service for homeless people, whether in a specialist setting or in your own practice.
You can contact Paul (although, by his own confession, he may take a while to reply!) by emailing pauloreilly@nhs.net. If there is anything you'd like to hear the guys cover in a future episode, you can get in touch at podcast.rcgp@gmail.com.
LJ talks to GP Matt Sawyer (@SEESustainabil1) and trainee Helen Ross (@helen_m_ross) about climate change, how to make your practice more sustainable, how we can all create a greener future, and why there are some reasons for optimism!
Note: this episode was recorded before the UK's July and August 2022 heatwaves.
Greener Practice: https://www.greenerpractice.co.uk
RCGP sustainability resources: https://www.rcgp.org.uk/policy/rcgp-policy-areas/climate-change-sustainable-development-and-health
SEE Sustainability: https://seesustainability.co.uk
Hatim chats to 'kindred spirit' (his words!) Mohammed Salid Sait about their respective experience outside of training, and how it's added to their personal and professional lives.
Meera checks back in with RCGP AiT Co-Chairs Julia Darko and Harry Williams, to find out more about what they've been involved in since taking office in November 2021.
To get in touch with Julia and Harry about getting involved, or anything else, you can email them at ait.chair@rcgp.org.uk.
Johannes has a fascinating conversation with Jonathan McAllister about life as a GP in London's best-known prisons, from 'home visits' in cells, to arranging hospital referrals with an armed escort.
If you're interested in finding more about practicing behind bars, Jonathan is happy for you to contact him at jonathan.mcallister@nhs.net.
Meera has an in-depth chat with Chrissie Wellington (@chrissiesmiles), the Global Lead for Health & Wellbeing at parkrun, who also happens to be a four-time Ironman Triathlon world champion. As well as discussing her glittering career, and how GP practices can join the parkrun revolution, Chrissie talks more generally about achieving goals and taking opportunities.
Johannes chats to Chi, Elaine, Josh, Shila and Zoe, AiT and First5 parents who talk about their experience of juggling GP training with family life. Features guest appearances from several small children, as well as a very casually announced (but very exciting) piece of news from one of the team.
The pod gets turned on its head as Meera and Johannes go from interviewers to interviewees. Foundation doctors Dr Emma Tonner (@emmatonnerr) and Dr Bex Clegg (@rebeccaclegg13) - who both hope to enter GP themselves - ask about the guys' journeys towards general practice and what their experience of training has been.
Share personal stories and routes into GP, explain the opportunities building a portfolio career through training, and chat about what a typical week in GP could look like. For more GP career stories, videos, and resources head to rcgp.org.uk/choosegp. All the detail about the application process can be found on the GPNRO website https://gprecruitment.hee.nhs.uk/Recruitment.
The guys host a very public handover, as Adam Thomas and Sophie Lumley pass the AiT Co-Chair batons on to Julia Darko and Harry Williams. Adam and Sophie reflect on their time at the helm, while Julia and Harry discuss their priorities for the year ahead, as well as the merits of being partners in life as well as in work.
Anthony and Meera chat to Dr Stephanie Slater (Insta: @drstephanieslater), who gives an honest and engaging account of her own struggles with depression and anxiety during her GP training.
You can find RCGP wellbeing resources at: https://www.rcgp.org.uk/training-exams/practice/gp-wellbeing. If your mental health is making everyday life more difficult than it ought to be, please take Stephanie's advice and speak to your GP.
In a crisis or an emergency, or if you do not know where else to turn, you can also: * Call 0330 123 1245 to speak to the BMA 24/7 helpline; * Text NHSPH to 85258 to contact the Practitioner Health Programme; * Call 116 223 to speak to the Samaritans.
Hatim and Johannes chat to two newly-qualified GPs, Dr Helena Lendrum and Dr Thuva Amuthan (@dramuthan), about their first 100 days post-CCT.
Find out about RCGP mentoring at https://www.rcgp.org.uk/mentoring, and search 'GP SPIN' for a GP Salaried Portfolio Innovation Scheme near you.
AiT Co-Chairs Adam and Sophie drop by to give an update on how things are going within their roles and the AiT Advisory Network; unsurprisingly, exams dominate the conversation!
To find out more about getting involved in the network, check out their video at https://youtu.be/tZw8mZG78Ik.
This episode - originally recorded in January - features Andrea Mazzella (@andmazzella) speaking about his fascinating work in the field of vaccine development.
Features content from CNN.
The team chat to Adam Thomas and Sophie Lumley - the newly-elected AiT Co-Chairs for 2020-21 - about their journey to election and what they plan to achieve in the post.
Recorded just before the end of Lockdown 2.0, the team bring you the slightly-rebranded Somewhere in Between. With Anthony's time as AiT Chair ending, will he still be hosting the podcast? There's only one way to find out...
This week, the host becomes the interviewee as the team question Anthony about his experience as AiT Chair, and why you should stand in the 2020 election.
To find out more about the process and to nominate yourself, head to the election hub at cesvotes.com/rcgpait2020. Nominations are open until midday on Monday 19 October.
This week, Anthony chats to Christiana Melam (@Christie_Melam) and Mohan Sekeram (@SekeramMohan) about the importance of person-centred care and social prescribing in 21st century general practice.
To find out more about the National Association of Link Workers, head to nalw.org.uk, and to check out the RCGP's person-centred care resources, visit rcgp.org.uk/person-centred-care.
The team continue their virtual tour of the UK as Meera and Johannes chat to Sarah and Nicole, the AiT reps from Wales. They discuss their different settings and communities and how COVID-19 has impacted their training and practice.
To get involved with RCGP Cymru Wales, head to https://www.rcgp.org.uk/rcgp-near-you/rcgp-nations/rcgp-wales.
This week, Meera virtually sits down with Katherina, the AiT rep for South East Scotland. They chat about her experience north of the border and her rather unique route to general practice.
To find out more about getting involved in RCGP Scotland, head to https://www.rcgp.org.uk/rcgp-near-you/rcgp-nations/rcgp-scotland.
Anthony, Johannes, Hatim and Meera discuss some of the things they wish they had known when they started GP training.
This is part of the RCGP’s CelebrAiT initiative; you can access more content at rcgp.org.uk/ait.
As part of CelebrAiT, the team bravely hosted a live version of the podcast, complete with trouble unmuting at the beginning. Once they got going, they discussed their experience of training so far and offered some key tips for those starting training.
As part of 'CelebrAiT', which is running throughout August, the team share why they chose GP and how they've found their training experience so far.
Featuring 'These are the Hands' by Michael Rosen.
Meera talks to Sean Vanstone, a GP trainee with the Royal Navy, about a rather different route into general practice.
Featuring 'I Can See Clearly Now' by the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir.
The team catch up after a few weeks out of the podcast game, and Anthony speaks to RCGP leads from the Medical Students & FYs, First5s and Later Career & Retired Members groups about why community is important in the College. Featuring 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' by NHS Chorus-19.
Following on from last week's episode on digital health, Hatim speaks to Dr Minal Bakhai, the Clinical Lead for Digital First Primary Care at NHS England. Anthony also offers his thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement following the tragic death of George Floyd.
You can find out more about Dr Minal's work at england.nhs.uk/gp/digital-first-primary-care.
The first of a pair of episodes on digital heath and the growing role of technology in general practice. Hatim talks to Dr Hussain Gandhi (aka Dr Gandalf) of eGPlearning and Johannes catches up with Dr Lydia van Hamel-Parsons, formerly of accuRx.
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, Anthony chats to Dr Amrita Sen Mukherjee (@amisenmukherjee) about wellbeing and the team discuss what mental health means for trainees and patients alike during these difficult times. You can find the RCGP’s wellbeing resources at rcgp.org.uk/training-exams/practice/gp-wellbeing. Featuring ‘Kindness Matters’ by the Mental Health Foundation.
Anthony offers his reflections on a whirlwind six months, and the team discuss the new exams proposals and how things might slowly be returning to normal.
Note: This episode was recorded before the Prime Minister's address on Sunday 10 May.
Anthony, Hatim, Meera and Johannes discuss the latest updates on training during the pandemic, tentatively plan a podcast trailer and invite two guests on to talk about what's happening locally.
Featuring 'My Favourite Things - Covid-19 version' by Shirley Serban.
Anthony, Hatim and Meera are joined by new host Johannes, to talk through the key trainee-related topics of the week. This time, it's training during a pandemic, how to keep busy and sane during lockdown, and who has the best Covid haircut.
Featuring 'You Clap for Me Now' by Darren James Smith.
Anthony (@DrAnthonyJames), Hatim (@Dr_Hatz) and Meera (@DrMeeraKumar) go through a list of important questions that matter to trainees during the Covid-19 outbreak, give some reasons to be cheerful and welcome an international fan of the show.
You can access the RCGP's Covid-19 information pages at rcgp.org.uk/covid-19, and the brand new membership forum at covid19forum.rcgp.org.uk.
After the first recording was promptly pushed aside in light of the Covid-19 outbreak, the team virtually got 'together' to go for a second attempt at an introductory episode.
Anthony (@DrAnthonyJames), Hatim (@Dr_Hatz) and Meera (@DrMeeraKumar) give an introduction to the podcast, the RCGP and what an AiT actually is, before discussing the impact of the pandemic on GP trainees.
You can access the RCGP's Covid-19 information pages at rcgp.org.uk/covid-19, and the brand new membership forum at covid19forum.rcgp.org.uk.