Consultation Skills Series

Teaching Plan: Managing Uncertainty

This teaching plan emphasises the inherent uncertainty in general practice, where undifferentiated presentations often make diagnosis challenging. Supervisors are key in guiding registrars through the complexities of managing uncertainty, helping them navigate situations where clear answers are not readily available.

For convenience, you can read through this resource here, or use the pdf tools at the top of the document to download and / or print the file.

Date reviewed: 10 February 2026

Please note that while reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation, we frequently update content and links as needed. If you identify any inconsistencies or broken links, please let us know by email.

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Consultation Skills Series

Teaching Plan: Patient-centred care

Patient-centred care (PCC) focuses on understanding the whole person, respecting their preferences, and involving them actively in decision-making. It is essential in establishing strong rapport with patients, improving satisfaction, adherence, and health outcomes, with supervisors playing a key role in teaching this approach to registrars.

For convenience, you can read through this resource here, or use the pdf tools at the top of the document to download and / or print the file.

Date reviewed: 10 February 2026

Please note that while reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation, we frequently update content and links as needed. If you identify any inconsistencies or broken links, please let us know by email.

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Consultation Skills Series

Teaching Plan: Professional And Ethical Practice

This teaching plan highlights the critical importance of professional and ethical practice in quality general practice, as outlined in the curricula of RACGP and ACRRM. It emphasises the supervisor’s role in nurturing core values such as duty of care, patient rights, and safe, ethical practice, complementing the GPSA Teaching Professionalism Guide.

For convenience, you can read through this resource here, or use the pdf tools at the top of the document to download and / or print the file.

Date reviewed: 10 February 2026

Please note that while reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation, we frequently update content and links as needed. If you identify any inconsistencies or broken links, please let us know by email.

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Consultation Skills Series

Teaching Plan: Rational Test Ordering

The Rational Test Ordering Consultation Skills Teaching Plan is designed to enhance the ability to order tests effectively during patient consultations. It emphasises best practices for accurate and efficient test ordering to improve patient care.

For convenience, you can read through this resource here, or use the pdf tools at the top of the document to download and / or print the file.

This best-practice resource is a Teaching Plan on Rational Test Ordering, which is part of GPSA’s Consultation Skills series.

Date reviewed: 11 February 2026

Please note that while reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation, we frequently update content and links as needed. If you identify any inconsistencies or broken links, please let us know by email.

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Consultation Skills Series

Teaching Plan: History Taking

Taking a thorough and focused history is essential in general practice, as it supports diagnosis and management while excluding serious causes, all within a biopsychosocial framework. GP supervisors play a crucial role in teaching these skills to registrars, helping them navigate the balance between comprehensive and efficient history taking in a patient-centered context.

For convenience, you can read through this resource here, or use the pdf tools at the top of the document to download and / or print the file.

Date reviewed: 10 February 2026

Please note that while reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation, we frequently update content and links as needed. If you identify any inconsistencies or broken links, please let us know by email.

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Consultation Skills Series

Teaching Plan: Time Management

This teaching plan explores strategies to improve time management in medical consultations, fostering efficiency without compromising patient care. It equips educators and trainees with practical tools to enhance consultation skills.

For convenience, you can read through this resource here, or use the pdf tools at the top of the document to download and / or print the file.

This best-practice resource is a Teaching Plan on Time Management, which is part of GPSA’s Consultation Skills series.

Date reviewed: 21 February 2026

Please note that while reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation, we frequently update content and links as needed. If you identify any inconsistencies or broken links, please let us know by email.

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Consultation Skills Series

Teaching Plan: Physical Examination

This teaching plan emphasizes the importance of mastering focused and evidence-based physical examination skills, which are critical for general practitioners to address patients’ needs effectively. It highlights the GP supervisor’s pivotal role in teaching and demonstrating these skills, particularly in areas where hospital exposure may be limited, such as dermatology and musculoskeletal medicine.

For convenience, you can read through this resource here, or use the pdf tools at the top of the document to download and / or print the file.

Date reviewed: 16 March 2026

Please note that while reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation, we frequently update content and links as needed. If you identify any inconsistencies or broken links, please let us know by email.

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Consultation Skills Series

Teaching Plan: Rational Prescribing

This teaching plan focuses on rational prescribing, emphasising the judicious, safe, and effective use of medicines to improve health outcomes while mitigating potential harms. It highlights the critical role of GP supervisors in shaping GP registrar prescribing practices and connects with related GPSA teaching plans on prescribing mechanics, polypharmacy, deprescribing, and antibiotic use.

For convenience, you can read through this resource here, or use the pdf tools at the top of the document to download and / or print the file.

Date reviewed: 11 February 2026

Please note that while reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation, we frequently update content and links as needed. If you identify any inconsistencies or broken links, please let us know by email.

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Consultation Skills Series

Teaching Plan: Writing Quality Referrals

This teaching plan focuses on developing the skills required for writing high-quality referrals during consultations. It provides practical guidance to enhance communication and ensure effective patient care transitions.

For convenience, you can read through this resource here, or use the pdf tools at the top of the document to download and / or print the file.

This best-practice resource is a Teaching Plan on Writing Quality Referrals, which is part of GPSA’s Consultation Skills series.

Date reviewed: 22 February 2026

Please note that while reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation, we frequently update content and links as needed. If you identify any inconsistencies or broken links, please let us know by email.

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Consultation Skills Series

Teaching Plan: Quality Medical Records

This teaching plan emphasises the importance of maintaining high-quality medical records as a cornerstone of safe, effective, and continuous patient care. It equips supervisors with strategies to assess and guides GP registrars in mastering this essential skill for clinical practice and medico-legal purposes.

For convenience, you can read through this resource here, or use the pdf tools at the top of the document to download and / or print the file.

Date reviewed: 11 February 2026

Please note that while reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation, we frequently update content and links as needed. If you identify any inconsistencies or broken links, please let us know by email.

This website uses cookies. Read our privacy policy.