Overview
Throughout my career as a GP, I have been committed to delivering high quality healthcare through ensuring my knowledge and skills are honed for practice. My motivation to keep learning has naturally led me to develop a special interest in clinical education. I have guided my teaching career so that I continue to be involved with curriculum areas that are related to patient-facing healthcare roles. I enjoy working with others to develop their communication skills, clinical reasoning and decision-making skills as I feel these are vital for working in complex environments.
Qualifications
- MBBS (St George's Hospital Medical School)
- MRCGP (Exeter GP VTS Scheme)
- DipMedEd, DGM, DRCOG, DFFP, DipOccMed, M.Ed
Career
Clinical
- 2016 - present: Salaried GP (St Thomas Medical Group, Exeter)
- 2002 - 2015: GP Partner (Mount Pleasant Health Centre, Exeter)
Previous UG BMBS educational roles
- Lead for Remediation
- Senior PBL Tutor
- PDG Tutor (Years 1, 2, 4)
- SSU provider (Dermatology in Primary Care)
- ISCE examiner (Years 2 & 4)
- Doctors as Teachers SSU Tutor
Other roles
- GP Trainer
- GP Appraiser
- NHS England complaints reviewer
Research
Research interests
- Postgraduate pharmacy education to support the expanding role of pharmacists
- Problem-based learning / case-based material in clinical education
- Curriculum design
- Clinical skills assessment
Publications
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Publications by category
Journal articles
Clark CE, Sims L (2018). Hypertension care: sharing the burden with pharmacists.
Br J Gen Pract,
68(675), 458-459.
Author URL.
Sansom A, Terry R, Fletcher E, Salisbury C, Long L, Richards SH, Aylward A, Welsman J, Sims L, Campbell JL, et al (2018). Why do GPs leave direct patient care and what might help to retain them? a qualitative study of GPs in South West England.
BMJ Open,
8Abstract:
Why do GPs leave direct patient care and what might help to retain them? a qualitative study of GPs in South West England
Objective to identify factors influencing general practitioners’ (GPs’) decisions about whether or not to remain in direct patient care in general practice and what might help to retain them in that role. Design Qualitative, in-depth, individual interviews exploring factors related to GPs leaving, remaining in and returning to direct patient care. Setting South West England, UK. Participants 41 GPs: 7 retired; 8 intending to take early retirement; 11 who were on or intending to take a career break; 9 aged under 50 years who had left or were intending to leave direct patient care and 6 who were not intending to leave or to take a career break. Plus 19 stakeholders from a range of primary care-related professional organisations and roles. Results Reasons for leaving direct patient care were complex and based on a range of job-related and individual factors. Three key themes underpinned the interviewed GPs’ thinking and rationale: issues relating to their personal and professional identity and the perceived value of general practice-based care within the healthcare system; concerns regarding fear and risk, for example, in respect of medical litigation and managing administrative challenges within the context of increasingly complex care pathways and environments; and issues around choice and volition in respect of personal social, financial, domestic and professional considerations. These themes provide increased understanding of the lived experiences of working in today’s National Health Service for this group of GPs. Conclusion Future policies and strategies aimed at retaining GPs in direct patient care should clarify the role and expectations of general practice and align with GPs’ perception of their own roles and identity; demonstrate to GPs that they are valued and listened to in planning delivery of the UK healthcare; target GPs’ concerns regarding fear and risk, seeking to reduce these to manageable levels and give GPs viable options to support them to remain in direct patient care.
Abstract.
Full text.
Sims L, Campbell J (2017). Ills, pills, and skills: developing the clinical skills of pharmacists in general practice.
Br J Gen Pract,
67(662), 417-418.
Author URL.
Butterworth J, Sansom A, Sims L, Healey M, Kingsland E, Campbell J (2017). Pharmacists' perceptions of their emerging general practice roles in UK primary care: a qualitative interview study.
Br J Gen Pract,
67(662), e650-e658.
Abstract:
Pharmacists' perceptions of their emerging general practice roles in UK primary care: a qualitative interview study.
BACKGROUND: UK general practice is experiencing a workload crisis. Pharmacists are the third largest healthcare profession in the UK; however, their skills are a currently underutilised and potentially highly valuable resource for primary health care. This study forms part of the evaluation of an innovative training programme for pharmacists who are interested in extended roles in primary care, advocated by a UK collaborative '10-point GP workforce action plan'. AIM: to explore pharmacists' perceptions of primary care roles including the potential for greater integration of their profession into general practice. DESIGN AND SETTING: a qualitative interview study in UK primary care carried out between October 2015 and July 2016. METHOD: Pharmacists were purposively sampled by level of experience, geographical location, and type of workplace. Two confidential semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted - one before and one after the training programme. A constant comparative, inductive approach to thematic analysis was used. RESULTS: Sixteen participants were interviewed. The themes related to: initial expectations of the general practice role, varying by participants' experience of primary care; the influence of the training course with respect to managing uncertainty, critical appraisal skills, and confidence for the role; and predictions for the future of this role. CONCLUSION: There is enthusiasm and willingness among pharmacists for new, extended roles in primary care, which could effectively relieve GP workload pressures. A definition of the role, with examples of the knowledge, skills, and attributes required, should be made available to pharmacists, primary care teams, and the public. Training should include clinical skills teaching, set in context through exposure to general practice, and delivered motivationally by primary care practitioners.
Abstract.
Author URL.
Full text.
Publications by year
2018
Clark CE, Sims L (2018). Hypertension care: sharing the burden with pharmacists.
Br J Gen Pract,
68(675), 458-459.
Author URL.
Sansom A, Terry R, Fletcher E, Salisbury C, Long L, Richards SH, Aylward A, Welsman J, Sims L, Campbell JL, et al (2018). Why do GPs leave direct patient care and what might help to retain them? a qualitative study of GPs in South West England.
BMJ Open,
8Abstract:
Why do GPs leave direct patient care and what might help to retain them? a qualitative study of GPs in South West England
Objective to identify factors influencing general practitioners’ (GPs’) decisions about whether or not to remain in direct patient care in general practice and what might help to retain them in that role. Design Qualitative, in-depth, individual interviews exploring factors related to GPs leaving, remaining in and returning to direct patient care. Setting South West England, UK. Participants 41 GPs: 7 retired; 8 intending to take early retirement; 11 who were on or intending to take a career break; 9 aged under 50 years who had left or were intending to leave direct patient care and 6 who were not intending to leave or to take a career break. Plus 19 stakeholders from a range of primary care-related professional organisations and roles. Results Reasons for leaving direct patient care were complex and based on a range of job-related and individual factors. Three key themes underpinned the interviewed GPs’ thinking and rationale: issues relating to their personal and professional identity and the perceived value of general practice-based care within the healthcare system; concerns regarding fear and risk, for example, in respect of medical litigation and managing administrative challenges within the context of increasingly complex care pathways and environments; and issues around choice and volition in respect of personal social, financial, domestic and professional considerations. These themes provide increased understanding of the lived experiences of working in today’s National Health Service for this group of GPs. Conclusion Future policies and strategies aimed at retaining GPs in direct patient care should clarify the role and expectations of general practice and align with GPs’ perception of their own roles and identity; demonstrate to GPs that they are valued and listened to in planning delivery of the UK healthcare; target GPs’ concerns regarding fear and risk, seeking to reduce these to manageable levels and give GPs viable options to support them to remain in direct patient care.
Abstract.
Full text.
2017
Sims L, Campbell J (2017). Ills, pills, and skills: developing the clinical skills of pharmacists in general practice.
Br J Gen Pract,
67(662), 417-418.
Author URL.
Butterworth J, Sansom A, Sims L, Healey M, Kingsland E, Campbell J (2017). Pharmacists' perceptions of their emerging general practice roles in UK primary care: a qualitative interview study.
Br J Gen Pract,
67(662), e650-e658.
Abstract:
Pharmacists' perceptions of their emerging general practice roles in UK primary care: a qualitative interview study.
BACKGROUND: UK general practice is experiencing a workload crisis. Pharmacists are the third largest healthcare profession in the UK; however, their skills are a currently underutilised and potentially highly valuable resource for primary health care. This study forms part of the evaluation of an innovative training programme for pharmacists who are interested in extended roles in primary care, advocated by a UK collaborative '10-point GP workforce action plan'. AIM: to explore pharmacists' perceptions of primary care roles including the potential for greater integration of their profession into general practice. DESIGN AND SETTING: a qualitative interview study in UK primary care carried out between October 2015 and July 2016. METHOD: Pharmacists were purposively sampled by level of experience, geographical location, and type of workplace. Two confidential semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted - one before and one after the training programme. A constant comparative, inductive approach to thematic analysis was used. RESULTS: Sixteen participants were interviewed. The themes related to: initial expectations of the general practice role, varying by participants' experience of primary care; the influence of the training course with respect to managing uncertainty, critical appraisal skills, and confidence for the role; and predictions for the future of this role. CONCLUSION: There is enthusiasm and willingness among pharmacists for new, extended roles in primary care, which could effectively relieve GP workload pressures. A definition of the role, with examples of the knowledge, skills, and attributes required, should be made available to pharmacists, primary care teams, and the public. Training should include clinical skills teaching, set in context through exposure to general practice, and delivered motivationally by primary care practitioners.
Abstract.
Author URL.
Full text.
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External Engagement and Impact
- Royal College of General Practitioner's MRCGP Clinical Skills Assessment Examiner Panel Member
- Royal Pharmaceutical Society Advanced Pharmcist Assessment Panel member
- CMH rep as Regional development and delivery partner on the National Clinical Pharmacist in General Practice Phase 2 scheme. https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/gpfv/workforce/building-the-general-practice-workforce/cp-gp/
- Co-design and co-delivery of Clinical assessment skills courses with Centre for Postgraduate Pharmacy Education team
Teaching
Modules
2020/21
Information not currently available