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The GP+ Careers Podcast

The GP+ Careers Podcast

Written by: Royal College of General Practitioners
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 Brought to you by the RCGP, the GP+ Careers podcast, hosted by Dr Sophie Lumley aims to showcase the breadth and diversity of careers you can develop as a GP.

Dr Lumley interviews GPs who do their GP work alongside an extended role, special interest or extra responsibility. Each podcast is focused on a specific interest or role even if the GP has multiple.

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Episodes
  • 24: GP+ Medical Journalism with Dr Rammya Mathew

    24: GP+ Medical Journalism with Dr Rammya Mathew
    Apr 24 2026
    In this episode of the GP+ Careers podcast, host Sophie is joined by Dr Rammya Mathew, a GP in Northwest London and a borough medical director in Brent. Alongside these leadership roles, Rammya is a regular columnist for the BMJ and a GP appraiser. The episode explores her journey into medical journalism, from her early days being active on social media to being headhunted for one of the most prestigious journals in medicine. Rammya shares her tips on overcoming imposter syndrome, finding your voice, and the practicalities of balancing a varied portfolio career.Top Tips Just give it a go and practice - Rammya's primary advice is to simply start writing, as she believes medical journalism is an iterative process where skills naturally improve through practice. Instead of waiting for a formal role, you can build your skills by writing informally for blogs or smaller platforms. Over time, the process becomes easier as you learn to identify which daily observations are most valuable to share with others Build a professional profile on social media - Being active and vocal on platforms like X can help you engage with senior leaders and other medical writers. A visible profile ensures that your work reaches an audience, as having the networks and the connections is often how you get noticed or even headhunted by major journals. Be bold and authentic in your writing - To truly engage readers, you must put yourself out there and be "unapologetically you" and willing to share brave, honest opinions. People engage most when you avoid being "dry and boring" and instead bring your personal self and clinical experience into your pieces. To maintain professional standards, ensure your tone remains constructive and present both sides of an argument before clearly weighing in with your own perspective. Study the work of others - Read established columnists to understand how they structure their arguments and manage tight constraints, such as a 450-word limit. This helps you learn how to make it flow better and include multiple points efficiently. Keep a notebook for daily inspiration - Use your clinical practice as a primary source of material by continuously observing what you see around you. Keeping a dedicated notebook helps capture ideas immediately so you have a bank of topics when it is time to sit down for your scheduled writing days. Seek out informal opportunities - Look out for 'taster weeks' at medical journals to see how they are put together and how editors decide which topics are currently topical. Alternatively, offer to summarize discussions from medical events or online forums to get your foot in the door.Further readingThe British Medical Journal website: www.bmj.com Rammya's first accepted BMJ article on childhood obesity: https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2016/08/25/rammya-mathew-it-is-time-for-doctors-to-put-their-public-health-hats-on/ British Journal of General Practice (BJGP): https://bjgp.org/ RCGP Mentoring: www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-mentoring Dr Rammya Mathew has been involved in medical journalism since her time as a GP registrar. Since 2019, she has written a regular column for The BMJ, using this platform to highlight and advocate for issues close to her heart: supporting women in medicine, tackling systemic barriers and inequalities affecting communities, and championing the unique and invaluable role of the general practitioner. Her thought leadership is a central part of her contribution to medicine, complementing her roles as Borough Medical Director for Brent, practising GP and medical appraiser.RCGP Podcast Feedback Your feedback plays a crucial role in helping us improve the CPD products and services we offer. We would be grateful if you could please complete our short RCGP Podcast Survey, which will take no more than 5 minutes to complete.
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    24 mins
  • 23: GP+ Urgent Care with Dr Maisun Elftise

    23: GP+ Urgent Care with Dr Maisun Elftise
    Mar 20 2026
    Join us this month as Sophie speaks with Dr Maisun Elftise, a GP and Consultant in Integrated and Community Care working in an urgent care setting in Coventry. She highlights the improved work-life balance she gained in a shift-based model that eliminates traditional administrative burdens like practice lists and blood result follow-ups. Maisun also discusses her passion for tackling health inequalities and provides practical advice for GPs looking to explore this career path. Top Tips Try the role before committing by doing locum shifts or shadowing at an urgent care centre to see if the fast-paced environment and variety of "walk-in" cases suit your style of practice. Leverage your existing GP training as you do not necessarily need a specific diploma or advanced training to begin working in urgent care; however, you can build further confidence through resources like the RCGP One Day Essentials in Urgent Care or the Diploma in Urgent Care from the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. Focus on the work-life balance benefits, such as the "shift work" model that allows you to leave on time and the absence of a practice list, which means you have no accumulated admin like blood results or letters to follow up. Utilize professional networks by joining the RCGP Urgent Care Special Interest Group (SIG) to find mentoring and support, and to connect with a community of GPs working in diverse settings, from urban centres focused on health inequalities to rural areas. Appreciate the clinical safety net of working in a setting attached to a hospital, which can provide an added layer of security because specialist workforce and emergency equipment are readily available if a patient's condition becomes more high risk. Protect your well-being by remembering that "No is a full sentence". It is important to ensure your roles fit your current stage of life and not to feel pressured to take on every interest or opportunity at once. Further readingRCGP Clinical Topic guide on Urgent and Unscheduled care: www.rcgp.org.uk/mrcgp-exams/gp-curriculum/urgent-unscheduled-care RCGP Super Condensed Curriculum Guide on Urgent and Unscheduled Care: www.rcgp.org.uk/getmedia/789da9e7-14c4-4236-9cfe-e33b5f15e3d0/Urgent-unscheduled-care-SCCG-2025.pdf RCGP Urgent Care online courses: elearning.rcgp.org.uk/local/rcgp_coursedisplay/index.php RCGP Urgent Care Special Interest Group (SIG): www.rcgp.org.uk/about/communities-groups/urgent-careRCGP Mentoring: www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-mentoring Diploma in Urgent Medical Care: services.rcsed.ac.uk/exams/exam-details-diploma-in-urgent-medical-care Dr. Maisun Elftise is a GP and Consultant in Integrated and Community Care at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. She practices in an inner-city Urgent Care Centre, focusing on respiratory medicine and health equity. In addition to her clinical work, Dr Elftise is a Training Programme Director at Worcestershire GP Training Programme. She is an advocate for tackling health inequalities and is involved with the Primary Care Respiratory Society and Primary Care International.Dr Elftise is also the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Lead for the Coventry and Warwickshire Training Hub, demonstrating her commitment to fostering an inclusive healthcare environment. She also serves as a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, promoting a culture where staff feel safe to raise concerns without fear of retaliation. She is also nationally elected RCGP council member 2024-2027. RCGP Podcast Feedback Your feedback plays a crucial role in helping us improve the CPD products and services we offer. We would be grateful if you could please complete our short RCGP Podcast Survey, which will take no more than 5 minutes to complete.
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    34 mins
  • 22: GP+ Dermatology with Dr John Diamond

    22: GP+ Dermatology with Dr John Diamond
    Feb 20 2026
    In this episode of the GP+ Careers podcast, Sophie interviews Dr John Diamond, a GP based in Northern Ireland as he shares his journey of developing an extended role in dermatology to tackle Northern Ireland’s multi-year secondary care waiting lists. Drawing on his experience with the Cardiff diploma and the GPECs elective service, he provides practical advice on finding a clinical "spark," collaborating with colleagues, and starting small within your own practice. Top Tips Establish your foundation first - Spend your first four or five years in general practice settling into the business of partnership and getting to know your patient population before pursuing a specialised niche. Invest in formal, high-quality qualifications - Pursue specialised education, such as the Cardiff diploma in practical dermatology, but be prepared for the time commitment; a rigorous academic diploma can require approximately 10 hours of study per week for a full year. Observe secondary care clinics voluntarily - Before investing heavily, reach out to local consultants and ask to sit in on their clinics. As dermatology is highly visual, this firsthand exposure helps you determine if the discipline, which offers a "clean" break from complex social or mental health issues, truly suits you. Collaborate to build services - Avoid working in isolation; instead, gather a group of like-minded colleagues. Pair with those who have complementary strengths, particularly those skilled at lobbying for funding and navigating administrative hurdles, as their persistence is often what gets a service off the ground. Start small and focus on patient impact. You don't need a regional service to be effective; simply enhancing skills for your own practice list is invaluable. Addressing inflammatory conditions locally provides immediate relief to patients who might otherwise face secondary care waiting lists as long as six or seven years.Further readingRCGP Dermatology Toolkit: elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/book/view.php?id=12891 RCGP Clinical Topic Guide on Dermatology: www.rcgp.org.uk/mrcgp-exams/gp-curriculum/dermatology GP Elective Care Service (GPECS) - Northern Ireland: gpecs.easternfsu.com/about-gpecs/ RCGP Mentoring: www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-mentoring Postgraduate Diploma in Practical Dermatology (PgDip) at Cardiff University: www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught/courses/course/practical-dermatology-pgdip-part-time An introduction to Dermoscopy (online) course at Cardiff University: www.cardiff.ac.uk/professional-development/available-training/short-courses/view/an-introduction-to-dermoscopy Dr John Diamond is a full-time GP partner at Garden Street Surgery and its branch practice, Bellaghy Medical Centre, in County Derry, Northern Ireland. He has worked in the practices for over 25 years and now serves the community in which he grew up, with many of his patients having known him since childhood.Dr Diamond was recently elected a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), an achievement of which he is very proud. He holds the Cardiff Diploma in Practical Dermatology and a Diploma in Dermoscopy.He is the regional GP lead for an award-winning photo-triage project that has supported thousands of patients, and he helped establish the region’s primary care elective dermatology service, where he has worked since its inception.Dr Diamond is deeply connected to the community where he has lived and worked all his life.RCGP Podcast Feedback Your feedback plays a crucial role in helping us improve the CPD products and services we offer. We would be grateful if you could please complete our short RCGP Podcast Survey, which will take no more than 5 minutes to complete.
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    30 mins
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