22: GP+ Dermatology with Dr John Diamond

In this episode of the GP+ Careers podcast, Sophie interviews Dr John Diamond, a GP based in Northern Ireland as he shares his journey of developing an extended role in dermatology to tackle Northern Ireland’s multi-year secondary care waiting lists. Drawing on his experience with the Cardiff diploma and the GPECs elective service, he provides practical advice on finding a clinical "spark," collaborating with colleagues, and starting small within your own practice. Top Tips

Establish your foundation first - Spend your first four or five years in general practice settling into the business of partnership and getting to know your patient population before pursuing a specialised niche.

Invest in formal, high-quality qualifications - Pursue specialised education, such as the Cardiff diploma in practical dermatology, but be prepared for the time commitment; a rigorous academic diploma can require approximately 10 hours of study per week for a full year.

Observe secondary care clinics voluntarily - Before investing heavily, reach out to local consultants and ask to sit in on their clinics. As dermatology is highly visual, this firsthand exposure helps you determine if the discipline, which offers a "clean" break from complex social or mental health issues, truly suits you.

Collaborate to build services - Avoid working in isolation; instead, gather a group of like-minded colleagues. Pair with those who have complementary strengths, particularly those skilled at lobbying for funding and navigating administrative hurdles, as their persistence is often what gets a service off the ground.

Start small and focus on patient impact. You don't need a regional service to be effective; simply enhancing skills for your own practice list is invaluable. Addressing inflammatory conditions locally provides immediate relief to patients who might otherwise face secondary care waiting lists as long as six or seven years.

Further reading

RCGP Dermatology Toolkit: elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/book/view.php?id=12891

RCGP Clinical Topic Guide on Dermatology: www.rcgp.org.uk/mrcgp-exams/gp-curriculum/dermatology

GP Elective Care Service (GPECS) - Northern Ireland: gpecs.easternfsu.com/about-gpecs/

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

Postgraduate Diploma in Practical Dermatology (PgDip) at Cardiff University: www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught/courses/course/practical-dermatology-pgdip-part-time

An introduction to Dermoscopy (online) course at Cardiff University: www.cardiff.ac.uk/professional-development/available-training/short-courses/view/an-introduction-to-dermoscopy

Dr John Diamond is a full-time GP partner at Garden Street Surgery and its branch practice, Bellaghy Medical Centre, in County Derry, Northern Ireland. He has worked in the practices for over 25 years and now serves the community in which he grew up, with many of his patients having known him since childhood.

Dr Diamond was recently elected a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), an achievement of which he is very proud. He holds the Cardiff Diploma in Practical Dermatology and a Diploma in Dermoscopy.

He is the regional GP lead for an award-winning photo-triage project that has supported thousands of patients, and he helped establish the region’s primary care elective dermatology service, where he has worked since its inception.

Dr Diamond is deeply connected to the community where he has lived and worked all his life.

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