Pier Health GP Fellowship Programme

The Fellowship offers multiple opportunities – both in developing as a newly qualified GP and in enhancing my leadership and professional growth. This program presents a fantastic opportunity to engage in meaningful projects in an area I am passionate about. As a coil and implant fitter, I am particularly keen on improving access to women’s healthcare services. The Fellowship has already enabled me to start my BMS menopause journey, and I am looking forward to continuing this progress and making a meaningful impact.

My Pier Fellowship Project focuses on the use of Artificial Intelligence, and how it can be used to optimise the provision of care for our frail population.

NHS Southwest, as part of the Digital Neighbourhood Programme, is at the forefront of digital transformation. It is now using a new piece of AI software, called Brave AI: a tool that uses patient data more effectively to case-find those most at risk of their health deteriorating.

Pier Health now has access to this technology, and I am exploring how the insights it provides can be used in conjunction with the wider MDT to drive forward Integrated Neighbourhood Teams.

An interesting tool on the individual level, deployed across PCN-wide populations, it could be the catalyst to revolutionise the way we operate – neatly encapsulating the ways in which the NHS is promised to be changing – ‘hospital to community, sickness to prevention, analogue to digital’.

When demand continues to rise, working more effectively using the emerging tools at our disposal becomes even more crucial. Having the guidance, support, and brain space offered by the Pier Fellowship Programme has been fundamental to exploring this dynamic area of primary care. 

Education is a deeply rooted passion of mine, and a day spent teaching medical students at 168 always gives me joy.

In the past year, I have had the opportunity to do some exciting projects involving developing supervision resources within the PCN and working with the Fellowship team on our own GP Fellowship Program. This has also allowed me to expand into work around social media and recruitment. It has also allowed me to do career enhancing work such as being an Interviewer for Bristol University Medical School and pursuing the Clinical Supervisor Course.

I am currently working on a project in which I develop and run training courses for non-clinical staff across the PCN, and this has proven to be very exciting so far.

I look forward to learning and developing my skills further through our amazing Fellowship Program and am ever grateful for the opportunities and network it has given me!

I am thoroughly enjoying my time as the Pier Health Lifestyle Fellow. It’s been great to explore an area of interest alongside my salaried GP role. I am passionate about Lifestyle Medicine and it’s role in wellbeing, quality of life and prevention of chronic disease.

My first project is utilising the ‘RCGP Active Practice Charter’ to make simple and impactful changes in practices across the PCN, striving to reduce sedentary behaviour and increase physical activity in both our staff and patients, whilst working in collaboration with the wider community. Looking forward, I am also hoping to produce some educational materials on key elements of a healthy lifestyle for our patients.

Additionally, I am hoping to work towards my Diploma in Lifestyle Medicine to build on my knowledge and equip me with the skills to practice with this special interest and optimise the health of my patients.

Being a Mental Health and Wellbeing Fellow at Pier Health has been an incredible leadership opportunity, allowing me to work on meaningful and lasting change projects. It has given me a platform to champion causes I’m passionate about, develop initiative, and see them through to implementation – something that often goes beyond what’s achievable in a newly qualified salaried GP role.

This experience has not only been a significant learning opportunity, but also a change to collaborate closely with fantastic allied health professionals in the area, building strong relationships and networks. It’s been deeply fulfilling to lead projects that make a lasting impact on both patients and staff, whilst also growing personally and professionally.

During the fellowship, I’ve had the opportunity to work on Community Wellbeing projects, improve Mental Health processes and patient support, and create initiatives around Serious Mental Illness and staff wellbeing, to name just a few.