General Practitioner Career Description

General Practitioner Job Profile and Description

General Practitioners, or GPs as they are better known, are those doctors who are appointed for continued care and treatment of patients within a local community by the National Health Services. They are trained fully to work in the primary medical sector. They generally work as a part of a team and work outside the secured environment of a hospital. They also may run a clinic. Such doctors are not just confined to any one line or branch of medicine.

General Practitioner Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of a general practitioner involve:

• GPs are the first doctors that most people visit whenever there is a need for medical help

• They perform checkups and recommend medicines or specialists to the patients

• Advice patients on diet, care, hygiene and ways of preventing further illnesses.

• Provide consultation on pre natal care, delivering the baby and post natal care too

• Report the government authorities on births, deaths and outbreak of contagious diseases

General Practitioner Skills and Specifications

A General practitioner is required to possess the following skills and specifications:

• Ability to work under pressure

• Willingness to work for longer hours

• Efficient decision-making skills

• A positive and helping attitude towards patients

General Practitioner Education and Qualifications

A general practitioner is required to hold a minimum of the following education and qualifications:

• A five-year medical degree

• Compulsory general and hospital practice for a few years

• Professional up gradation of knowledge

• Rigorous and detailed courses in science

General Practitioner Salary

A general practitioner with a years experience can expect an annual income of $150,000 on an average. The type of job profile, experience of the candidate and qualifications are some of the other factors that decide the salary.