Residential 2025
A joyful, reflective residential exploring wellbeing, values, and the future of GP training.
Residential 2025
Yes, we did it again. Residential2025 saw a record-breaking 95 trainers and trainees descend on the glorious Cumberland Lodge this May, where the croissants were flaky, the learning was deep, and the yoga leggings were… ambitious.
I hope you enjoyed our brand new recap video montage — quickly becoming a much-loved (and gloriously time-consuming) tradition. What started as a bit of fun has now become one of the most highly anticipated features of the residential. If you haven’t seen it yet (scroll up — go on, we’ll wait!), it’s 2 minutes of pure joy: laughter, lunges, meaningful learning and just the right amount of awkward stretching.
Across two packed days, we explored lifestyle medicine, debated values, unravelled commissioning, and celebrated GP training at its very best. Here’s a look back at the highlights.
Lifestyle Medicine with Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi
If you ever doubted that exercise, nutrition and a good night’s sleep could save the NHS, then you haven’t met Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi. The RCGP Lifestyle Medicine Lead, triathlete, media doctor, and all-round health warrior, delivered not one but two back-to-back sessions that were fun, engaging, and packed with take-home value.
Hussain reminded us that prevention isn’t just better than cure — it’s cheaper, more empowering, and comes with fewer side effects than statins. From rethinking how we move (spoiler: chairs are not our friends) to reframing mental wellbeing as a pillar of health, his evidence-based insights left attendees buzzing.
Attendees were inspired by his practical tips, such as re-engineering movement into daily routines and the importance of community in promoting health. His session was a masterclass in making lifestyle changes accessible and enjoyable.
If you’re interested in exploring lifestyle medicine further, Hussain has kindly shared a selection of resources and information on relevant courses. These will be uploaded to the Trainee Area section of the website shortly — so keep an eye out! It’s a great opportunity to take your interest from inspiration to implementation.
🧘 Bonus points to everyone who turned up to the post-lunch yoga session with stretchy trousers and (false) optimism. Special mention to those who didn’t fall asleep during shavasana!
Julian Bradley Award – Dr Lizzie Thorne
Presented by Dr Bhav Oberai, this year’s Julian Bradley Award of Excellence went to the truly exceptional Lizzie Thorne (catch her on Netflix if you haven’t already — and no, it’s not a true crime documentary… yet).
Lizzie’s ST3 trainer, Dr Jonathan Bevan, moved the room with a heartfelt tribute, highlighting Lizzie’s quiet competence, resilient character, and ability to deliver compassionate care in the most challenging of settings.
Lizzie’s speech brought many to the brink (and some over the edge) of tears. Here’s a quote that stuck with us; “I got support from day dot, even before I started… every training programme should be based off the GP programme — because of how supportive they are, how kind people are, how they help you stand on your own two feet but continue to support you even after CCT”.
If you haven’t watched the recap video montage yet (seriously, what are you waiting for?), keep an eye out — we’ve included some lovely photos from the presentation ceremony too. ❤️Lizzie, we salute you. You’ve raised the bar and warmed our hearts.
Aligning Expectations: The Great GP Training Debate
Led by dynamic duo Dr Rachel O’Donnell and Dr Nadeem Ahmed, this session tackled one of the most important (and often unspoken) aspects of GP training: how trainees and trainers can find common ground when it comes to values, expectations and real-world challenges.
Using the ever-popular Mentimeter to collect live insights (embedded below), the session sparked rich discussion around big questions like: What does a ‘good’ trainee look like? How do we handle mismatched expectations? How can training practices adapt to support individual learning styles and needs?
Some key reflections included:
- Communication and transparency are everything.
- Feedback should be a dialogue, not a monologue.
- Alignment early on can make the rest of the journey smoother, kinder, and more productive.
- It was an open, honest and energising session — and a reminder that the best training relationships are built on curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to listen.
The full Mentimeter responses are embedded below (navigation controls in bottom left of the slide), and a summary report of the anonymised feedback will be available soon in the Educator Forum section of the site.
The Wrap-Up: Community, Cake, and Connection
As always, Residential2025 reminded us that we’re part of something bigger. It’s not just about ticking curriculum boxes — it’s about building a thriving, sustainable GP community rooted in wellbeing, shared values, and connection.
Whether you came for the coffee, the yoga, the commissioning crash course, or the moral support — thank you. This event was a triumph because of you.
Until next year — stay curious, stay connected, and yes… maybe invest in a decent yoga mat.
