Dr. Alexandra Wainwright - Bath - 1973 - 1977

I have been a GP for eighteen years and thoroughly love my job.  I combine working part-time in General Practice at about 30 hours a week with having a young family of three children and feel I have the perfect combination.  My work is very varied and you never know who is coming through the door; it may be a newborn baby for a routine check-up, somebody with vague symptoms of tiredness or somebody with a serious diagnosis of cancer.  We also have the privilege of doing home visits where you are invited into people’s homes if they are unable to travel to the surgery.  This has reduced a lot during the time I’ve been in General Practice.  I am delighted to say that we have also managed to shed the nights and weekends on-call.

The training for general practice is fairly long and hard work.  Firstly you do your degree which is five years, then a year of house jobs and then general practice training for three years.  I also did an extra year of Psychiatry and Anaesthetics prior to starting in practice.  Life has changed somewhat since my day of doing junior house jobs and there is less sleep deprivation now however it is still long and arduous, although quite fun! 

I would happy to talk to anybody interested in a career in general practice and could be contacted via my work telephone number 01442 822468.  If I am not available, please speak to Leeza my secretary.