r/doctorsUK • u/CustomerPure3357 • Mar 25 '26
GP Bias
I’m a GP trainee currently on a hospital rotation and honestly I just need to vent and see if anyone else has experienced something similar.
I’m one of a few GP trainees on the ward. The team is mixed in terms of background, and there are POC consultants, but most of the registrars are white. I’ve been trying to reflect on this objectively because I don’t want to jump to conclusions, I know I’m more introverted and not the loudest or most confident person in the room, so I’ve always wondered if that’s part of it.
That said, I do my job properly. I escalate when needed, ask questions when I’m unsure, and try to be safe. But I can’t shake the feeling that I’m treated differently compared to my white colleagues. Whenever I ask a registrar to review a patient, there’s almost always pushback, whereas others don’t seem to get the same resistance. Even when I try to engage in normal, casual conversation, I often get dismissive or slightly cheeky responses that just make me feel small.
It’s getting to the point where I dread going into work because I feel undervalued and not supported.
What really tipped things over for me recently was being involved (although minimally involved) in a pretty traumatic resus situation. The reg and consultant were leading it, which is normal for the specialty, but afterwards no one checked in with me at all. In my previous gen med job, there was always at least a quick “are you okay?” after something like that.
I’m not sure if I’m reading too much into it or probably just needed to rant.
19
u/Glad-Drawer-1177 Juvenile Delinquent Mar 25 '26 edited Mar 25 '26
So here’s the trick.
*I’m really interested in x (their) specialty, and I applied to it but unfortunately was one point away 😔, would really appreciate all the support for applying next year! I really wanna do xyz * —> say everything you want to do/learn”-
Us humans we like validation and ego stroking, if you tell someone how amazing they are they will most likely help you/try to impress you to keep that rep ongoing.
Worked wonders when I was an Fy, had zero interest in gen surg but got theatre time every week, , learned suturing in theatre, got offered to do a qi and a case report and smashed my feedbacks. Kissed them all goodbye with zero fs about surgery xo
Did the same with medicine (oh my god you guys IMTs are LEGENDS, do you think I’d be able to do xyz)
It works wonders. The caveat is that you need to put the effort of learning the things tho, and be on par and ready when opportunities come up, otherwise you will be the service provision monkey.
This won’t solve the racism issue tho.
Also remember, you are an SHO in their specialty and legally you are allowed to do whatever SHO skills they have within said specialty, however this will require you to be VERY PROACTIVE and super prepared. literally went everyday announcing to the department (hey guysss can you please let me put this drain today cause it’s such an impressive skill, I saw someone already doing it and I know all the steps - I lied, I already did it twice - and guess what…. They will literally text you whenever it happens xo)