Leadership: a challenge for GPs?

Abstract

Since High Quality Care for All (2008), the development of leadership has been seen as a priority, and this has prompted various initiatives, not least the development of a leadership competency framework for doctors. The Medical Leadership Competency Framework (2009) is the first strategic level attempt to develop the leadership competencies required by doctors at various stages in their careers. Leadership is all the more important given the recent change of government and the policy of retrenchment, major structural change, and the emergence of new organisations, for example, GP commissioning consortia. The success of these new organisations, particularly in budget holding, 'will depend on the engagement of GPs and the leadership they provide' (Ham, 2010). The question is: which leadership model or approach is best for GPs working in primary care? This short article will seek to address this question.