The General Practitioner (GP) is the key physician in primary medical care. The principal function of the role is the diagnosis and holistic management of illness and disease in the community and referral to specialists where appropriate. The GP therefore functions as primary health care contact and gate keeper to specialist care. Preventative medicine and patient health education are usually an integral part of the role.
Some GP roles require specialist skills and additional qualifications in diverse clinical areas to expand the scope of practice of the GP and permit additional responsibilities according to the work setting.
Skills in high demand include minor surgery, anaesthesia, dermatology, obstetrics, gynaecology, travel medicine, paediatrics, psychiatry, rural medicine and emergency medicine.
The most common job title worldwide is General Practitioner, but the designation Family Physician is used in the USA, Canada and Middle East. The title Urgent Care Physician is used for GPs working in walk in Urgent Care centres or Emergency Departments.
In Australia and New Zealand, experienced GPs may work as District Medical Officers and be based in hospital Emergency, Anaesthesia or Obstetric Departments.
Our candidates for General Practitioner and Family Physician roles all have the following qualifications:
Search for General Practitioner or Family Medicine roles
Useful Links
The Royal College of General Practitioners
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
Colleges of Medicine South Africa College of Family Physicians