New GP finds dream job close to home in Rhondda
Rachel Jefferies set her heart on becoming a GP even before entering medical school.
The 29-year-old former Porth school pupil was attracted to the job because of the opportunity to get to know her patients, their children and their grand parents, in a place she felt at home.
“General practice is by far the more sociable of the jobs in medicine,” she said. “You get to know people for more than in other roles as a doctor and there is more face to face contact with your patients. I enjoy dealing with people more than anything.”
Dr Jefferies went to the Cardiff School of Medicine. She did her foundation training as an F1 in West Wales General Hospital 2011, as F2 in Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend.
Three years of GP training followed at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant, with placements at Pontcae Medical Practice in Merthyr Tydfil and in Newpark Surgery in Talbot Green, “both great practices”, she said.
“I found the GP teaching sessions a valuable opportunity to regularly meet with the other trainees in Cwm Taf,” she said.
“We were offered protected time to share experiences, discuss concerns and support each other on a professional and personal basis which is hugely helpful when you’re starting to take on the independent GP role for the first time.
“My experience of the training offered in individual practices has been consistently excellent, with enthusiastic and encouraging mentors and practice teams.”
Now she is among the latest addition to staff at the Forest View Medical Centre in Treorchy.
“I always wanted to come back to the Rhondda to work because I think they are the best people and I wanted to give something back here. The patient population are great.
“There are a lot of misconceptions about Rhondda. It may be an area with social deprivation but I think it is an area where you have a chance to make a difference and do a lot of good.
“I was keen to take up the opportunity at Forest View because it is a practice that is looking to the future and they wanted to get new young people on board. Having enthusiastic doctors who want to do a lot in the community is good.
“There is still a community here and I am looking forward to being at the heart of such a community.”
She follows Dr Rachel Bennett among the latest GP appointments at the practice and Josh Davies, 21, who has also joined the team recently as a healthcare support worker.
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