eNews June 2013: Spotlight on...Dr Richard Jenkins

Dr Richard Jenkins is Group Medical Director at One Medicare, which provides patient and GP focused primary healthcare solutions. He started his career as a GP in 2000, and then went on to work for the NHS institute for Innovation and Improvement. He has held a variety of senior posts in Primary Care Trusts (including being a GP prescribing lead and a clinical governance lead). Currently, he is focused on improving quality and safety in general practice. Through his work on the Innovations Programme he has also gained extensive understanding of the US healthcare system. Richard thinks it’s important to maintain clinical contact, so remains in clinical practice as a GP partner in Lichfield. He is married with two sons and maintains an interest in fast cars and country sports.

Describe your role in one sentence

I’m a medical director who also does general practice.

What is your background?

I’m a GP by training and I’ve been a GP partner for 11 years. I first got involved with clinical leadership development through the Patient Safety Programme at the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement. I took on the role of medical director two years ago and now I’m more involved with leadership management.

How would you describe your current role?

My current role involves a combination of governance and quality. I spend a lot of time in meetings and I also have to engage clinical teams – it’s important to help everyone understand their role and it’s important to communicate in the way that’s needed.

The Health and Social Care Act (2012) has resulted in a lot of big changes and challenges for healthcare providers. The non clinical workload is increasing at the same time that patients have higher healthcare expectations. Part of my role is to protect clinicians – who are usually very dedicated and struggle with workloads – from unnecessary bureaucracy.

My board representation means I have a responsibility to challenge the board (and be challenged in return) around governance and quality issues. In doing this I feel I’m the voice of both the clinician and the patient. The fact that I still do clinics at a GP surgery every week has helped with this.

What were the key milestones in your career and what has helped you in your career path?

Last December I just finished an MBA – it was something that I wanted to take on as I wanted to see the world outside healthcare. I found it very stimulating, not only learning from the courses but from my fellow students who were from different sectors.

I’ve been very fortunate to have had two informal coaches – John Clark from the Institute and Gerry McSorley. Both of them have helped me to shape my decisions – I can bounce my thoughts off them and get good advice.