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How to become a Macmillan GP in England

 

The role of the Macmillan GP Facilitator is to improve the care of patients with cancer by providing protected time for experienced GPs to work with colleagues in primary care and also in cancer and palliative care services. At the end of these projects there should be a recognised improvement in the quality of care provided to cancer patients.

The role:

  • visit primary care organisations and teams to enhance skills through educational activities such as case presentation workshops and critical incident analysis
  • work on specific local and national projects, e.g. out of hours organisation, patient-held records, newsletters, audit tools and standards of care
  • improve links to specialist palliative and cancer care
  • work with clinical governance and primary care cancer leads in primary care organisation
  • link with existing educational groups locally and nationally
  • carry out research and audits if required
  • feedback to a local support group involving key stakeholders including Macmillan Cancer Support.

Qualifications and experience

A Macmillan GP facilitator should:
  • be a GP in active practice for at least three years, with clinical experience of managing patients with cancer and palliative care needs
  • show an active interest in cancer and palliative care with a good understanding and awareness of emerging cancer and palliative care strategies, local and national
  • be able to demonstrate an interest in and some experience of education and training
    have good interpersonal, communications and presentation skills
  • be able to work as a member of a multi-professional team, appreciating different roles and responsibilities of the team members
  • be able to demonstrate that they can maintain their skills and knowledge in cancer and palliative care
  • a diploma in palliative medicine is not essential but is desirable in many posts.


Appointment procedures

If a post for a GP Facilitator is being developed locally, it will be advertised. If there are no plans for a local post and you wish to develop one, please contact your local primary care cancer lead or cancer manager to canvas their views and also contact your local Macmillan service development manager via the regional head of service development.

East Midlands/Northern Region, Head of Service Development - Denise Barker, Tel: 01904 756428 or 01904 756405.

London and South East Region, Head of Service Development - Stephen Hindle Tel: 020 8222 9003 or 020 8222 9005. Macmillan GP Adviser - Rosie Lofthouse

Central and South West Southern, Head of Service Development - Gillian Lord Tel: 01264 343 802. Macmillan GP Advisers - Greg Tanner and Keri Thomas