Prison GP stars in Think ads
A GP who works in a South Wales prison is starring in a new campaign to recruit thousands more family doctors into general practice in Wales.
Owen Thomas, who works at Parc Prison in Bridgend, is one of five family doctors fronting the Royal College of General Practitioners’ new Think GP campaign.
It aims to highlight the diverse and exciting nature of a career in general practice and reverse the severe shortfall of GPs across the UK.
Think GP is the latest in a series of GP recruitment initiatives organised by the college, and explodes the myth perpetuated by TV programmes like Casualty, Holby City and 24 Hours in A&E that only doctors who work in hospital settings have an exciting and challenging role.
Dr Thomas’ role as a prison doctor is a perfect example of how diverse and rewarding a career in general practice can be, as it follows his multiple roles as family doctor in the community, clinical lead at Parc Prison, a counsellor and a lecturer.
Other GPs featured in Think GP include a rural GP, an innercity GP, an academic GP, and a GP who runs a specialist head- ache clinic. Along with a new guide, the videos paint a picture of that is a far cry from the idea that GPs simply treat coughs and colds.
The launch of Think GP comes after the college revealed that patient safety could be at risk if drastic action isn’t taken to turn around the current severe shortage of GP across the UK – with nearly 600 practices facing closure by 2020 if current trends continue.
Dr Thomas, said: “General practice truly is the career of opportunity, and as a prison GP I’m able to take on so many dif- ferent roles and responsibilities – every day presents different scenarios with different challenges.
“I love being a GP – we care for generations of patients throughout their lives in the community. And my role as a prison doctor allows me to expand this to those outside of the immediate community, as well.
“Unless we are able to turn around the chronic shortfall of GPs across the UK, there will be too few GPs to go round, practices will be forced to close, and patient safety in general practice will clearly be at risk.”