The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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In the late 1960s a Royal College of General Practitioners' working party produced a job description for the 'Future General Practitioner', together with an educational programme for vocational training. Despite the perceived success of vocational training, general practice remains academically disadvantaged compared with hospital medicine. Most general practitioners (GPs) have no contact with research or academic general practice, few achieve higher degrees compared with hospital consultants, and there are few academic posts in general practice. ⋯ Present day vocational training produces GPs without the skills that future 'community generalists' will need. Their training will be longer and their careers more structured than at present. They will use evidence-based practice routinely and be experts in information management, interpreting and managing complex diagnostic and therapeutic problems in the context of rapidly changing health technology.