Dr Hayley Jenkins

A GP in Milton Keynes and Northampton

I’d always had an interest in gynaecology and women’s health, even before I started medical school. During training I realised I didn’t have a surgical mind and had no desire to do that side of the speciality but training to be a GP gave me a more flexible and patient focused career with the option to incorporate some women’s health.

My GP reg year was with a doctor who specialised in family planning (FP) and women’s health too. During that time I achieved my DFSRH and LOC for coils and implants. My first salaried job was in an all-male practice so very quickly the female patients migrated to me so I had a lot of chance hone my skills.

My previous trainer offered to mentor me to pass the LOC MED and become a FP trainer myself. A few years later, I became a partner in a larger training practice and developed a weekly FP clinic for our patients where I could also train other doctors. I went on to do the PGCME to allow me to be a GP trainer as well.

I was approached by the local sexual health clinic who needed a new contraception lead and began to work there in addition to my GP role. Initially this was just 2.5hrs a fortnight but over time these hours increased and I was able to reduce my core GP hours to accommodate.

The more I’ve trained and worked in family planning the more specialist skills I’ve mastered mainly through practice and experience rather than exams and qualifications. I became known in Milton Keynes as an expert in my field and was then approached to lecture and teach local GPs and nurses. I secured a bid with my practice to run a community gynae clinic working alongside a local consultant - pushing my skills to another level.

Looking back at my career, it’s made up of three key components, GP, women’s health and teaching/training. I value them all equally and like the diversity this brings to my working life. I recently resigned from partnership and plan to work more in both the MK and Northampton FP clinics with some GP locum sessions. I now have lots of options and flexibility for the future with ideas on how to split my time between these areas of my profession. That makes the future a whole lot more exciting!