Commercial business and partnership aspects of general practice: the learning needs of First5 general practitioners in NHS Scotland-a qualitative study.

Objectives: To identify the learning needs of recently qualified general practitioners (GPs) (First5) in National Health Service (NHS) Scotland concerning GP partnership and the commercial business aspects of general practice. It aimed to identify learning opportunities during General Practice Specialty Training and the first 5 years of work, and to explore their suggestions of additional resources that would improve their sense of preparedness for partnership. A secondary aim was to explore what influenced their current choice of employment model and place of work.

Monitoring long-term oral corticosteroids.

Corticosteroids are synthetic analogues of human hormones normally produced by the adrenal cortex. They have both glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid properties. The glucocortoid components are anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, anti-proliferative and vasoconstrictive.