Dr Kate Jones

Dr Kate Jones is a GP and Training Programme Director for General Practice in Shropshire, with a strong commitment to supporting resident doctors whose native language is not English, in developing their communication skills.

Her interest in this area began with a single case, in which a colleague worked with a voice coach to help an international resident doctor build confidence in consultations. Recognising the potential to extend this support more widely, Kate approached Severnvale Academy, a local English language school, to explore a collaborative pilot.

This initiative evolved into the Advanced Communication Skills Course, a programme specifically designed for GP resident doctors whose first language is not English. Now in its fifth year, the course continues to develop in response to feedback from both participants and educators.

At the RCGP Conference, Kate and her colleagues will share insights from the design and delivery of this initiative, highlighting practical approaches to strengthening language clarity, professional expression, and interpersonal communication in everyday clinical practice.