How can medical schools encourage students to choose general practice as a career?

Barriers, facilitators, and survival strategies for GPs seeking treatment for distress: a qualitative study

“…3 Workload for GPs has increased by 16% in the past 7 years, 4 while less than one in five UK Foundation Year 2 doctors went into general practice in 2015. 5 The patient population is growing faster than the GP workforce, with rising demands due to an ageing population and increase in multimorbidity. 6,7 Additional pressures for GPs in the UK come from sources such as the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) and the implications of future cuts in NHS funding.…”

NHS England provides a major boost for general practice

“…It is anomalous that in some medical schools 30% of graduates enter general practice training while in others it is only 7%, 7 a problem for which there is a range of solutions. 8 The House of Commons Report is clear that "medical schools should recognise that they have a responsibility to educate and prepare half of all graduates for careers in general practice." 4 While the new proposals for general practice represent genuine progress, much of health and wellbeing has nothing to do with the NHS, and proper connections between health and wider social care could substantially reduce the pressure on NHS services and produce better outcomes.…”

Not such friendly banter? GPs and psychiatrists against the systematic denigration of their specialties

“…6 With our growing and ageing population, and patients increasingly presenting with multiple, long-term conditions, general practice is more important than ever in providing cost-effective care and keeping patients out of hospitals. 7 We can't do this without enough GPs. HEE now has a standing target to encourage 50% of medical students into general practice.…”