Education and teaching
General practice sits at the heart of the health service, providing the first point of contact for most people seeking medical care. General practitioners (GPs) deliver comprehensive, person-centred care across the life course, managing acute illness, chronic disease, and preventive health needs. They coordinate care between community and hospital services, ensuring continuity and equity of access. Although all medical students experience primary care during their training, with around a third choosing this career. Those who become GPs are drawn by the breadth of the role, the long-term relationships with patients, and the intellectual challenge of managing undifferentiated problems in a community setting.
Undergraduate education
Undergraduate education in primary care introduces students to medicine in its most holistic form. GP placements allow students to see how biological, psychological, and social factors intertwine in real patients’ lives. They observe continuity of care, experience the importance of communication and empathy, and begin to develop diagnostic reasoning skills from first principles. Exposure to primary care at this stage is crucial not only for clinical competence but also for shaping professional identity. It helps future doctors appreciate the value of community-based medicine, even if they later specialise in other fields.
Postgraduate education
Each of our SIGs agrees its own plan of activity with its members; this may change over time. You can find out more about the activities of each individual group on our website. Many SIGs hold meetings at the Annual Scientific Meeting, and sometimes at regional meetings too.
Educational research
Educational research underpins the continuous improvement of how doctors are trained. By studying what helps learners acquire skills, retain knowledge, and deliver better patient care, it informs curriculum design, assessment methods, and learning environments. In primary care, such research is particularly valuable: it explores how best to teach consultation skills, promote person-centred care, and prepare doctors for community-based practice. It also helps address workforce challenges by understanding what attracts and sustains GPs in their careers. In this way, educational research directly supports the quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of general practice itself.