New course aims to help GPs tackle too much medicine

Hull York Medical School has launched a new course to support GPs in tackling ‘too much medicine’. 

Hull York Medical School has launched a new continuing professional development course to support UK-based GPs to deliver tailored, whole-person care while addressing the growing challenge of ‘too much medicine’ in everyday practice. 

The course ‘Tailored care: tackling too much medicine’ is designed for UK-based GPs who regularly manage patients with multimorbidity, complex needs and significant treatment burden. It responds to increasing recognition that unnecessary tests, diagnoses and treatments can cause harm, particularly for patients living with multiple long-term conditions. It is the first of a series of short courses as part of the Science of Advanced Generalist Medicine CPD programme. 

Delivered by experts in primary care, the course provides GPs with the structure, space and time to reflect on complex decision making, explore whole person approaches to care, and examine the realities of practising medicine in an environment shaped by increasing expectations, limited time and growing uncertainty.  

Addressing modern pressures in general practice 

Concerns about overmedicalisation, overdiagnosis and polypharmacy have become more prominent across the NHS, with GPs often at the forefront of managing the consequences. While clinical guidelines and early diagnosis remain important, applying them safely for patients with complex needs requires careful judgement and confidence in whole‑person decision‑making. 

The new course explores how advanced generalist practice can help clinicians navigate these challenges. Participants are encouraged to critically examine the concept of “too much medicine”, consider its implications for patient safety and experience, and explore practical strategies to reduce treatment burden without compromising care.  

Dr Howard Skinner, Director of Primary Care Education at Hull York Medical School, GP Course Supervisor and former Senior GP Partner and said: 

‘General practice increasingly involves balancing uncertainty, risk and patient priorities in situations where guidelines are simply not enough. This course recognises the complexity of that work and supports GPs to develop the critical evaluation and analytical skills and confidence needed to deliver high-quality evidence-based general practice for people with multiple, complex or interacting health problems.’ 

Strengthening advanced generalist skills 

Advanced Generalist Medicine is a clinical approach used in primary care/experienced general practice as well as other areas of medicine. It focuses on delivering expert whole-person care for patients with multiple, complex or interacting health problems. Rather than specialising in one organ system or disease, advanced generalist clinicians develop deep expertise in managing complexity, uncertainty and multimorbidity. 

Participants on the programme will explore how generalist expertise differs from specialist approaches and how it can be used to support safe, person-centred decisions int he context of multimorbidity and limited resources.  

The programme also addresses barriers to this different way of working, including professional and patient expectations, system pressure and the fear of ‘missing something’. 

Designed for UK-based GPs 

‘Tailored care: tackling too much medicine’ is aimed at UK-based GPs who want to develop their skills and confidence in advanced generalist medicine. It is particularly relevant for clinicians with an interest in enhancing their clinical effectiveness.  

Delivered over two days, with day one comprising expert guided self-directed learning and a second day an online classroom day on 10 June 2026, it has been designed to be flexible.  

The programme forms part of Hull York Medical School’s commitment to supporting NHS workforce development, and to promoting high-quality, reflective general practice which meets the needs of patients and the NHS.  

Visit the Hull York Medical School website to find out more about Tailored Care: Tackling Too Much Medicine or email postgraduate@hyms.ac.uk