Advice I Wish I Had Before Starting GPST1

By Dr Myat Thu Aung

First of all, congratulations on making it into GP training.

Getting into GP training is a huge achievement, and it is normal to feel excited, nervous, or slightly overwhelmed at the start. I have recently completed GPST1 and moved into GPST2, and looking back, GPST1 was a year of adjustment, learning, and growth.

You are not expected to know everything from day one. GPST1 is about becoming safer, more reflective, and gradually more confident.

Hospital Rotations and GP Are Different

Hospital rotations and GP placements both offer valuable learning, but they feel very different.

In hospital jobs, you are usually working at SHO level, often within a team, with senior support nearby and easier access to investigations. Even then, try to think like a future GP. Ask yourself: what can I learn from this specialty that will help me later in general practice?

Hospital rotations may also help you discover a future special interest as a GP.

GP placements feel different. You often consult alone, see undifferentiated symptoms, and make decisions with limited immediate access to tests or imaging. This can feel overwhelming at first, but it is a normal part of learning general practice.

Ask for Help Early

One of the biggest lessons I learned is that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of safe practice.

You are not expected to manage every case alone. If you are unsure about a diagnosis, management plan, prescribing decision, referral, or safeguarding concern, speak to your supervisor or colleagues early.

Good trainees are not the ones who never ask questions. They are the ones who recognise uncertainty and seek support appropriately.

Learn to Manage Uncertainty

General practice is full of uncertainty.

Unlike hospital medicine, you may not have quick blood tests, imaging, or specialist opinions available. Patients often present early, before the diagnosis is clear. This means you need to balance risk using history, examination, clinical judgement, and safety-netting.

Managing uncertainty does not mean guessing. It means recognising red flags, knowing when to refer, explaining uncertainty honestly, and giving clear advice about when to seek help again.

Good safety-netting is one of the most important GP skills.

Consultation Skills Matter

In GP, consultation skills are central to safe and effective care.

ICE — Ideas, Concerns, and Expectations — is very important. Patients often attend with worries that are not obvious at first. Exploring ICE helps you understand the real reason they came and what matters most to them.

Building rapport effectively makes a big difference. Patients are more likely to share important information when they feel listened to and respected.

Be professionally curious. Ask about the wider context, including work, family, mental health, safeguarding, and social issues. As GPs, we also have a role in advocating for patients and helping them navigate the healthcare system.

Start Your Portfolio Early

Start your portfolio early. Do not leave it until the end of the rotation.

Not every entry needs to be about a rare or dramatic case. Everyday consultations can provide excellent learning, especially around uncertainty, communication, prescribing, safeguarding, referrals, teamwork, and feedback.

Try to write small, regular reflections and link them to the RCGP capabilities. Your portfolio is not just a tick-box exercise; it is evidence of your growth.

Look After Yourself

GP training is rewarding, but it can also be demanding.

There will be days when you feel uncertain, slow, or overwhelmed. That does not mean you are failing. It means you are learning.

Take breaks when you can, speak to your peers, use your supervisors, and keep time for life outside medicine. Looking after yourself is essential if you want to look after patients well.

Final Thoughts

GPST1 is about progress, not perfection.

Ask for help early. Learn to manage uncertainty. Use ICE well. Build rapport. Be professionally curious. Advocate for your patients. Start your portfolio early. Look after yourself.

You are not expected to be a qualified GP on day one. Every consultation, every debrief, and every reflection helps you grow.

Once again, congratulations on starting GP training. It is a challenging but rewarding journey, and GPST1 is the first step in becoming the GP you want to be.