General Practitioner

General Practitioners diagnose and treat people’s illnesses and injuries. They tend to see patients on a one-to-one, non-emergency basis regarding temporary or chronic illness, general health check-ups and preventative health tests. They are usually the first point of call regarding non-emergency illness or injury, and often refer patients on to specialists once they have made their diagnosis. General practitioners work in health clinics and practices in both the government and private sectors. They normally work with a small group of practitioners in a general practice, but do most of their work individually in private rooms with limited medical equipment. They may also work in a large community health centres with other health professionals and see patients in group settings.

Training to become a General Practitioner can be undertaken upon completion of a medical degree and one to two years of internship. Specialised training courses are generally undertaken in approved private practice settings and will be for a period of three to four years.