Jane Harrop-Griffiths - Sydenham High School 1963-1977

A career in Medicine

I am a General Practitioner and have been a partner in my Fulham practice for the last 15 years.

I left Sydenham High School to go straight to medical school in London and in those days medical training took 5 years before qualifying and a year spent as a pre registration House officer, 6 months in a medical speciality and 6 months in surgery.

Following that it was necessary to decide which speciality to go into and I started as a paediatrician but changed to general practice when I realised I enjoyed all specialities.
 
I completed jobs in paediatrics, accident and emergency, obstetric and gynaecology plus spending a year in the USA studying psychiatry, learning research techniques and writing papers which have resulted in my being invited to speak on sexual abuse in children in Holland, and the USA.
I enjoyed a year as a registrar in general practice in South London before having my son. I joined my practice in Fulham as a partner immediately after his birth. I have subsequently had a daughter. I work part time 3 ½ - 4 days a week and not only see my patients, but am involved in the management and running of my practice. I also teach medical students from Imperial College from the 1st to 4th  years and I am the Course Organiser for postgraduate training in the SW area of London.

A typical day starts with a 3 hour surgery from 8.30 to 11.30, my patients vary form those with depression and social problems to the frankly psychotic. The old isolated and lonely lady, the young anxious man, to child with severe asthma who needs to be admitted to hospital or woman with acute abdominal pain. The terminally ill who need treatment and support to the man who cannot work because of a shoulder injury and needs a joint injection. Cervical smears, managing diabetics and family planning takes up a large proportion of the surgery along with health education about smoking heart disease and drinking and the minor surgery lists that we do.
 
Following this we do our home visits, usually about 1-2 a day.
 Paperwork is done during lunch and takes about 1 hour a day. The afternoon is usually spent teaching or lesson planning, appraisals or meetings concerning students or GP trainees.
 
Then evening surgery from 3.30 to 6.00 and assuming I am not on call, home by 7.00.

General Practice offers a wide variety of opportunities for women. Not only is the work varied and interesting but there are opportunities for research, travel, teaching, journalism or media involvement, an administrative role and medical politics. General Practice is female friendly and part time working is the norm thus allowing family time if wished.

Medicine is once again in a state of flux being a political pawn for every government and these continued changes in the system and increasing political control causes much unrest and stress for doctors, but nevertheless medicine still offers a fascinating and rewarding career for those determined to succeed.

I am sorry but I cannot offer work experience as patient confidentiality excludes this however I am happy to offer any advice or help that I can. I am best contacted via the Minerva Network Development Office.