GP education posts for research

BACKGROUND: Almost every patient and every healthcare condition are seen within primary care, but research is not yet embedded in general practice in the same way it is in secondary care. There is no well-defined pathway for a career combining research delivery and active clinical general practice. AIM: In Wessex, we set out to design a career pathway for the clinically active GP that could sustain research involvement throughout their working lifetime and underpin research activity in primary care. METHOD: A lead for education on research was established, in 2021, to approach relevant organisations for funding, accreditation, and design of educational posts for research delivery in primary care. RESULTS: Health Education England is currently looking to fund additional placements prior to completion of GP training. NIHR CRN Wessex also identified funding for posts after completion of training. The authors worked with the Southampton GP Education Unit who applied for and achieved the first national recognition of 15-month research placements to count towards completion of GP vocational training. A GP career pathway was designed starting with these posts and followed by GP Research fellow posts, which provide ongoing sessional research work at any stage of a clinical GP career. CONCLUSION: National recognition for education on research has been achieved and a career pathway for GPs to train in and then work in research has been established. This will help embed research expertise and interest within primary care. This should increase research delivery and hence a cycle of increased research funding for further similar posts.