Summary of week one

In week one, we have looked at the history of the NHS, explored the NHS values and started to think about some of the challenges currently facing the NHS. We have also explored the role of a GP and found out about some of the patients they might see.

To help consolidate your learning, it’s important that you reflect on what you have learnt. Reflection is an essential skill for any aspiring healthcare professional, as all healthcare professionals regularly reflect on the knowledge, skills and attributes that they have learnt or developed. This helps them to identify their strengths and any areas for development so that they can continue to provide high quality care to their patients.

To understand more about what reflection is and how to do it, watch this talk from Dr Jane Goodfellow.

After watching the video, take some time to reflect and think about what you have learnt this week before you start week two’s learning. Don’t worry if you find this difficult at first. Throughout this project, there will be lots of opportunities to practice and develop your reflection skills.

Below are some questions you may want to reflect on this week:

• What did you learn this week that you didn’t know before?
• What knowledge have you gained about the roles and responsibilities of a general practitioner?
• Did you learn anything this week that surprised you?
• Are there any careers you want to go away and research further?