What will be covered?

In the morning we consider some evidence about what communication behaviours alienate patients and we examine some of the evidence for the best consultation behaviours for clinicians to use - to promote clinical effectiveness and efficient use of time. Exercises allow participants to compare their own experiences and process the key messages. Finally, small groups will use DVDs of consultations to bring these messages to life.

In the afternoon, we focus on some particular consultation tasks. We make evidence-based suggestions and then create practise, with feedback, for all participants. The major focus areas are

• The opening of the consultation
• Getting the full story
• Great explanations

We are confident that you will learn things and enjoy yourself. Our course is ideal for addressing issues raised in your GP appraisal. However, the key learning outcome is that each participant will go away with several practical, specific ideas for new things to incorporate into their own consultations. This may sometimes be as simple as a single word, or it may be a structure for a whole segment of a consultation.

The small group size and very practical programme allows each person to pick up different key messages, tailored to their own needs.


Why should I come on this course as opposed to others?

• This course is run by Dr Malcolm Thomas from Effective Professional Interactions. Specialists in developing and delivering such education. Malcolm was a practising GP until recently and is currently the UK's most active trainer in this field.
• The content is aimed squarely at real world primary care - for GPs and for Practice Nurses. With a focus on skills that can assist effective use of consultation time and better outcomes for patients AND clinicians.
• We focus on actions. We will concentrate on what it means to you and your patients, in the consulting room tomorrow.
• We run the course at convenient venues, meaning that there will be one close to you.
• The course is based on a small group with something of a seminar format. We limit the group size to a maximum of 27 participants to promote interactivity and to allow personally focused training. You will get the chance to work with all 26 of your colleagues in a small group exercise at least once during the day. You will hear colleagues using great words, phrases and strategies on the course - and this is an important part of the learning.
• The course book is a 25 page printed workbook. This is a workbook for the day; a place to record the great words, phrases and strategies that you come across and it is fully referenced to function as a reference after the course.
• We use a mix of educational styles. Short lectures with facilitated discussion. Exercises in groups to reflect on practice. A brief presentation of a synopsis of consultation behaviours that are linked with more effective outcomes (the Calgary Cambridge skill list). Exercises with recordings of simulated consultations - reviewed in small groups to compare ideas with your colleagues and to pick up tips. And we major in practical exercises, including recent insights, for structuring several critical phases of the consultation.       

So is this the only consultation effectiveness course you will ever need? Unlikely! Firstly, consulting with patients is one of those things you can always improve at. Secondly, this course focuses on some key, core consulting behaviours, whilst acknowledging a range of other suitable consultation challenges that GP Update plans to address in future. Thirdly, the consultation changes over time. Dr Thomas first worked as a GP in 1988 and in that time there have been huge changes in the complexity and challenge of the GP consultation - a trend which is likely to continue.