What is... a General Practitioner (GP)?

What is a General Practitioner? Understanding Their Clinical and Medico-Legal Importance

General Practitioners (GPs) form the cornerstone of healthcare in the UK and many other countries. They are often the first point of contact for patients and provide continuous, comprehensive care across the lifespan.

But beyond the consultation room, GPs frequently feature in medico-legal cases - whether as treating doctors, key witnesses, or expert commentators. Their expert insights are frequently called in to scrutinise and provide expert opinion in clinical negligence matters.

This article explores what a GP is, the scope of their practice, and why their actions and records can have significant implications in the legal domain, especially in clinical negligence, personal injury, and occupational health cases.

What is a General Practitioner?

Definition and Role

A General Practitioner (GP) is a fully qualified medical doctor who specialises in primary care. GPs are trained to diagnose and manage a broad spectrum of physical and mental health conditions.

Unlike hospital consultants who focus on specific areas of medicine, GPs are generalists — providing holistic, person-centred care for patients of all ages.

GPs are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and typically work in NHS or private general practices. They hold postgraduate qualifications such as the MRCGP (Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners) and undergo regular revalidation.

Core Responsibilities of a GP

• Diagnosing and treating acute and chronic conditions:

  • From infections and injuries to long-term conditions like asthma and diabetes.

• Health promotion and disease prevention:

  • Including vaccinations, screening programmes, and lifestyle advice.

• Referrals to secondary care:

  • GPs act as gatekeepers to specialist services, determining when further investigation is needed.

• Prescribing medications:

  • GPs manage complex prescribing regimes, including controlled drugs and repeat prescriptions.

• Mental health support:

  • They assess and initiate treatment for anxiety, depression, and other psychological conditions.

• Safeguarding and legal reporting:

  • GPs may identify signs of abuse, neglect, or mental capacity issues, and take appropriate action.

General practitioners play a central role in preventive care, chronic disease management, and early diagnosis.

GP Work Settings

• NHS GP practices

• Private clinics

• Out-of-hours and urgent care services

• Custodial environments (prisons, detention centres)

• Occupational health settings

• Medico-legal practice (as expert witnesses)

Training and Regulation

To become a GP in the UK, a doctor must:

1. Complete a 5–6 year medical degree

2. Undertake a 2-year Foundation Programme

3. Complete 3 years of GP Specialty Training (GPST)

4. Pass the MRCGP examination

5. Register with the GMC and be on the GP Register

GPs are bound by the GMC’s Good Medical Practice guidance and are subject to regular appraisal and revalidation.

GPs in the Medico-Legal Field

Clinical Negligence and Duty of Care:

GPs have a legal duty of care to their patients. Most negligence claims involving GPs concern:

• Failure to refer a patient for further investigation

• Delayed or missed diagnoses (e.g. cancer, meningitis, sepsis)

• Medication errors (e.g. incorrect prescriptions or omissions)

• Inadequate follow-up or failure to act on test results

• Poor record keeping or lack of informed consent

In negligence cases, GPs' actions are assessed using the Bolam and Bolitho legal tests — which consider whether the GP acted in accordance with a reasonable body of professional opinion and whether that opinion withstands logical scrutiny.

Accurate and contemporaneous GP records are vital in both ongoing care and medico-legal investigations

Importance of Medical Records:

GP records are often a primary source of evidence in litigation. These include:

• Consultation notes

• Prescribing history

• Referral letters

• Test results and action taken

• Safeguarding concerns

• Mental capacity documentation

Well-maintained, contemporaneous records can defend against a claim, while missing or vague entries may support allegations of substandard care.

GPs as Expert Witnesses:

Some experienced GPs act as expert witnesses, providing independent opinion on breach of duty, causation, and condition and prognosis in civil and criminal proceedings.

A GP expert may be instructed to review care provided by another GP, evaluate whether an occupational illness was foreseeable or preventable, comment on a claimant’s long-term prognosis after injury, or assess the functional impact of a mental or physical condition.

At Apex Experts Ltd, we work with highly experienced GP experts who combine current clinical practice with medico-legal training to provide clear, defensible reports.

GPs and Personal Injury Claims:

In personal injury litigation, GPs are frequently involved in:

• Initial diagnosis and documentation - The first medical notes following an injury can be vital for establishing causation and credibility.

• Ongoing treatment and referrals - Showing the trajectory of recovery and the extent of pain, suffering, and disability.

• Statements or reports - Occasionally GPs may be asked for factual statements or formal reports to support a claim.

Safeguarding, Capacity, and Court Reports:

GPs may be involved in legal matters concerning:

• Mental Capacity Assessments - Particularly for Lasting Power of Attorney, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), or court proceedings.

• Safeguarding reports - Related to children or vulnerable adults.

• Fitness-to-work or occupational health assessments - Which can be part of employment tribunals or insurance disputes.

What Does Apex Experts Do?

At Apex Experts, we provide a trusted panel of GP expert witnesses who deliver:

• Breach of Duty Reports for clinical negligence claims

• Condition and Prognosis Reports following personal injury or workplace incidents

• Capacity and Consent Opinions

• Medico-legal reports for criminal, civil, and family court proceedings

• Medical records analysis and chronology (for complex, multi-year GP records)

Whether a case hinges on a missed cancer referral or inadequate documentation of an assault, our GP experts combine clinical insight with legal literacy to support fair outcomes.

Conclusion - The GP’s Vital Role in Medico-Legal Work

General Practitioners are often the unsung heroes of the healthcare system — managing diverse, complex cases within time constraints and with limited resources. Yet their clinical decisions, documentation, and referrals can become central evidence in a legal dispute.

From diagnosis delays to safeguarding concerns, GPs operate at the intersection of medicine and law more often than many realise.

Understanding the breadth of a GP’s responsibilities — and their significance in litigation — is essential for solicitors, claims handlers, and fellow clinicians navigating healthcare disputes.

For further information on our Expert Witness services, recruitment, or anything else, please email us at info@apexexperts.co.uk, call 0203 633 2213, or visit our contact us page to send us a message - we can't wait to hear from you!