Career Planning for Senior GPs

In 2023, the Vale of Trent RCGP faculty, Phoenix Programme, Derbyshire’s The Hub Plus and Lincolnshire Training Hub collaborated to deliver a series of events aimed at supporting senior GP colleagues in all aspects of their career.

We offered four meetings covering a range of topics of interest to later career colleagues. Each session was delivered by expert speakers and facilitated by local GPs. We will run another series of events in early 2025:

• Session 1 – 8 January 2025, 7pm-9pm: Preparing for retirement and beyond: we will be joined by Michael Wright, Chief Executive of Notts LMC, and GPs who have recently retired to discuss the practicalities and logistics of retiring from or leaving general practice. There will be the opportunity to consider your own planning relating to late career and/or retirement in breakout rooms and Q&A.

• Session 2 – 29 January 2025, 7pm-9pm: Psychological transitions in later career: Led by Alexis Hutson, certified coach specialising in working with doctors and Dr David Poll, a retired GP and ex RCGP Vale of Trent Chair. This will be a highly interactive session and provide the opportunity to reflect on and review your plans for retirement/late career in a contained, safe, and supportive environment. It is aimed at non-financial aspects of individual planning by discussing ways of looking at this important transition. There will be opportunities to discuss your own situation and share experience with others. Confidentiality is a prerequisite.

• Session 3 – 26 February 2025, 7pm-9pm: Finance and Pensions Demystified: Including a presentation from Kevin Graham and Neil Forkin from Wesleyan, to cover finance and pension considerations for GPs in later career and an update on the McCloud judgement. There will be the opportunity for Q&A.

• Session 4 – 19 March 2025, 7pm-9pm: Exploring opportunities for late career GPs and extending your career: There will be a variety of GPs speaking about their experiences and personal later career choices and there will be the opportunity to ask questions. The three workforce support organisations will give information on local support and opportunities and there will be a RCGP representative to share information of the role of our college in late career and retirement.