The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Most patients are cared for in the community by GPs, and workforce planning for the UK NHS suggests that 50% of medical school graduates need to train as GPs. While there is pressure on medical schools to provide more student teaching in general practice, general practice must be prepared for this increase in workload and teachers should have appropriate training. ⋯ As medical student teaching moves into general practice GPs who teach will need to be helped to understand and develop positive role model attributes, to promote general practice as an attractive career to the students. Further research needs to identify the extent of assistance required and whether medical schools are prepared for this extra responsibility.
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As cancer incidence increases and survival improves, the number of people living with a cancer diagnosis is increasing. People living with cancer have 50% more contact with GPs 15 months after diagnosis than a population of similar age, sex and locality; 70% have another long-term condition. ⋯ Local understanding of the cancer prevalent population is needed, with a concerted effort to interpret large discrepancies between QOF and NCRAS registers, which may arise from differences in coding practice. Ensuring patients are identified in primary care is a first key step to managing cancer as a long-term condition.