A group of 29 GPs from Nottingham and Nottinghamshire took part in a celebration event for the Phoenix Fellowship Programme recently.
The fellowships support GPs to gain management and leadership skills, build professional connections and understand more about the wider health and social care system. This can open up career opportunities, with some GP fellows becoming involved in local and national leadership roles.
Each GP fellow is funded for one half day a week over 12 months to complete their fellowship. They select quality improvement projects they want to focus on, with recent examples including: developing a severe multiple disadvantage and inclusion health toolkit for practices; improving communications with care homes; and improving cardiovascular health.
Dr Kathy McLean, Chair of the Integrated Care Partnership, was one of the people invited to the celebration event. She said: “It was fascinating to hear about some of the work the fellows have been doing on the programme. The projects they are working on really demonstrate our Integrated Care System principles of prevention, equity and integration. Not only is the programme benefiting those GPs taking part, but it is also demonstrating a positive impact on our local communities. I am looking forward to seeing these projects embedded and spread.”
The fellowship programme is unique to Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and has attracted interest from NHSE and the Royal College of GPs. 73 GPs have been supported since the programme started three years ago.
The fellowships are part of a wider programme of workforce support offered to GPs at all stages of their career by the Phoenix Programme.