In the United Kingdom, there are in excess of 62,000 general medical practices, which provide primary care to those in the country.
These practices are responsible for the employment of more than 347,000 people, with the industry expected to grow slightly at a rate of 0.5 per cent this year and revenue expected to reach £22 billion.
There are no practices that have a dominant market share in the industry, yet the sector is dominated by practices that are funded publicly, as opposed to private practices. In fact, private practices make up less than four per cent of establishments in the sector.
Needless to say, the services of a general practitioner will always be in demand. This is an industry whereby you are always guaranteed work.
Nevertheless, you still have to do all in your power to attract people to your medical practice. Competition is fierce, as there are many general practices in the UK, yet demand is also high and so this represents a great opportunity.
When it comes to being successful as a general practitioner, you need to project a professional business image. This is of paramount importance.
If there is one thing people don’t want to take chances with it is their health. They want a GP that is going to provide them with the highest levels of care and quality. It is up to you to instil such confidence in your services.
So, how can you project a professional image? There are several approaches you can take. It all begins with the service you provide.
When it comes to an industry such as general medical practices, word of mouth is one of the most powerful tools. Therefore, to project a positive business image you need to have professionalism with everything you do.
You should make the most of the latest technology, like radiography testing. You should try your best to schedule effectively and see patients on time.
One of the biggest frustrations when visiting a medical practice in the UK is being made to wait an excessive period of time before seeing a doctor.
Ensuring this does not occur is imperative for patient retention and new referrals. You should also attempt to see referrals and new patients as soon as possible.
Having an effective website can also work wonders. However, you need to ensure that your strategy is right for your practice. If you have a private practice then by all means it is worth building a page to try and attract new clients.
But, if your practice is publicly funded and serves the local community, it would be wise to consider building a website that follows a similar format to a brochure you would have printed.
You can fill it with information about your practice, as well as patient-education materials. An effective method of communication can also work wonders, such as a secure messaging service.
All in all, it does not matter whether you work in the private or public sector, building a professional image and creating trust is a necessity for any GP. Use the tips above as a starting point.
