The future physician

Both hospital-based care and physician training have undergone significant changes within the past decade. Current physician training in the UK is failing to meet the needs of patients, with significant numbers of acute and general medicine posts unfilled. Building on the themes of the 2013 Shape of Training review, we propose a model that places an alternative model of generalist - the 'future hospitalist' - at the centre of patient care and medical training. The reinstatement of the general physician at the heart of hospital care will increase flexibility in both training and workforce planning, and embed active leadership, patient safety and quality improvement in care delivery.