What are the GP competences?
Competence means having the abilities, knowledge and skills necessary for professional practise. There are thirteen GP competences that GP trainees must demonstrate they have met by the end of their training:
Communication and consultation skills - communication with patients, and the use of recognised consultation techniques
Practising holistically – operating in physical, psychological, socioeconomic and cultural dimensions, taking into account feelings as well as thoughts
Data gathering and interpretation – for clinical judgement, choice of physical examination and investigations and their interpretation
Making a diagnosis and making decisions – a conscious, structured approach to decision making
Clinical management – recognition and management of common medical conditions in primary care
Managing medical complexity and promoting health – aspects of care beyond managing straightforward problems, including management of co-morbidity, uncertainty, risk and focusing on health rather than just illness
Organisational Management and Leadership – This competency is about an understanding of how primary care within the NHS is organised, how a primary care team is managed and the development of clinical leadership skills
Working with colleagues and in teams – working effectively with other professionals to ensure good patient care, including sharing information with colleagues
Community orientation – management of the health and social care of the practice population and local community
Maintaining performance, learning and teaching – maintaining performance and effective CPD for oneself and others
Maintaining an ethical approach to practice – practising ethically, with integrity and a respect for diversity
Fitness to practise – the doctor's awareness of when his/her own performance, conduct or health, or that of others, might put patients at risk, and taking action to protect patients
Clinical examination and procedural skills – competent physical examination of the patient with accurate interpretation of physical signs and the safe practice of procedural skills
More detailed descriptions, including word pictures for different levels of each competence, can be found on the RCGP website here