23: GP+ Urgent Care with Dr Maisun Elftise

Join us this month as Sophie speaks with Dr Maisun Elftise, a GP and Consultant in Integrated and Community Care working in an urgent care setting in Coventry. She highlights the improved work-life balance she gained in a shift-based model that eliminates traditional administrative burdens like practice lists and blood result follow-ups. Maisun also discusses her passion for tackling health inequalities and provides practical advice for GPs looking to explore this career path.

Top Tips

Try the role before committing by doing locum shifts or shadowing at an urgent care centre to see if the fast-paced environment and variety of "walk-in" cases suit your style of practice.

Leverage your existing GP training as you do not necessarily need a specific diploma or advanced training to begin working in urgent care; however, you can build further confidence through resources like the RCGP One Day Essentials in Urgent Care or the Diploma in Urgent Care from the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh.

Focus on the work-life balance benefits, such as the "shift work" model that allows you to leave on time and the absence of a practice list, which means you have no accumulated admin like blood results or letters to follow up.

Utilize professional networks by joining the RCGP Urgent Care Special Interest Group (SIG) to find mentoring and support, and to connect with a community of GPs working in diverse settings, from urban centres focused on health inequalities to rural areas.

Appreciate the clinical safety net of working in a setting attached to a hospital, which can provide an added layer of security because specialist workforce and emergency equipment are readily available if a patient's condition becomes more high risk.

Protect your well-being by remembering that "No is a full sentence". It is important to ensure your roles fit your current stage of life and not to feel pressured to take on every interest or opportunity at once.

Further reading

RCGP Clinical Topic guide on Urgent and Unscheduled care: www.rcgp.org.uk/mrcgp-exams/gp-curriculum/urgent-unscheduled-care

RCGP Super Condensed Curriculum Guide on Urgent and Unscheduled Care: www.rcgp.org.uk/getmedia/789da9e7-14c4-4236-9cfe-e33b5f15e3d0/Urgent-unscheduled-care-SCCG-2025.pdf

RCGP Urgent Care online courses: elearning.rcgp.org.uk/local/rcgp_coursedisplay/index.php

RCGP Urgent Care Special Interest Group (SIG): www.rcgp.org.uk/about/communities-groups/urgent-care

RCGP Mentoring: www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-mentoring

Diploma in Urgent Medical Care: services.rcsed.ac.uk/exams/exam-details-diploma-in-urgent-medical-care

Dr. Maisun Elftise is a GP and Consultant in Integrated and Community Care at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. She practices in an inner-city Urgent Care Centre, focusing on respiratory medicine and health equity.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr Elftise is a Training Programme Director at Worcestershire GP Training Programme. She is an advocate for tackling health inequalities and is involved with the Primary Care Respiratory Society and Primary Care International.

Dr Elftise is also the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Lead for the Coventry and Warwickshire Training Hub, demonstrating her commitment to fostering an inclusive healthcare environment. She also serves as a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, promoting a culture where staff feel safe to raise concerns without fear of retaliation. She is also nationally elected RCGP council member 2024-2027.

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