GP Training in
Swindon and Bath
high quality
 innovative
 effective
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A team approach
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Promoting GP as a career
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The VTS
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Steve Pigott, CO
Other issues
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Jon Elliman, PO
The DRC
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Jane Savage, CO
Martyn Hewett, CO
Resources
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Michael Harris, PO & CO
Promoting General Practice
as a career
Jane Savage
Promotion by…
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Our website
PRHO talks
Career advice
Pre-interview open morning
Our website - good response
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http://www.mharris.eurobell.co.uk/index.htm
from GCSE students…
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http://www.mharris.eurobell.co.uk/gptrain/welcome.htm
… to SpRs
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http://www.mharris.eurobell.co.uk/vts/index.htm
PRHO talks
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Six-monthly talks to PRHOs
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General Practice as a career
Career advice
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2 or 3 enquiries a week
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face-to-face
phone
e-mail
Open morning for VTS & GPR
applicants
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http://www.mharris.eurobell.co.uk/gptrain/openday.htm
Swindon & Bath - innovative
Vocational Training Schemes Jon Elliman
Swindon & Bath - innovative
Vocational Training Schemes
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Structure
Teaching
Trainer Involvement
Pastoral Care
Quality Assurance
Integration With The Day Release Course
Some Challenges
Structure
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8 three-year rotations
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starting every 6 months
Swindon
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2 have a middle year as a TAGPR
and 2 have 6 months as a TAGPR
Structure
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TAGPRs (Trust attached GP Registrar)
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3 days in hospital speciality
2 days attached to their training practice
Bath
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2 successful TAGPR schemes cancelled
because of lack of GPR funding
Structure of the Swindon VTS
Rotation 1
Rotation 2
Rotation 3
Rotation 4
Paeds
CoE
Paeds
Psych
A&E
Paeds
Psych
CoE
O&G
ENT
O&G
Ophth Pall Care
A&E
Derm/GUMed
A&E
O&G
Psychiatry
Trust Attached Post
GP Registrar Post
Other Colours Standard SHO Posts
GPR YEAR
Teaching/Integration
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Traditionally
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half day per month for VTS SHOs/TAGs
over their 2 hospital years
Teaching/Integration
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Now:
 2 inductions/year for new VTS SHOs
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2 days/year SHOs/TAGs jointly with DRC
2 days per year Swindon/Bath SHOs/TAGs
2 trainers days/year (GPRs/SHOs/TAGs)
2 joint communication days/year TAGs/GPRs
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1 or 2 Swindon/Bath TAG days/year
2 half or whole days for Swindon TAGs/SHOs
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http://www.mharris.eurobell.co.uk/newgpr/spring05/timetabl.htm
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Trainer Involvement
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Enthusiastic Trainers’ Groups
TAGPRs
Contact During SHO year
Trainers’ Days in Bath and Swindon
Use Of GPs/GP Trainers in teaching
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MRCGP exam
Ophthalmology
Dermatology
Headache
Risk Management
etc
Pastoral Care
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Hospital Consultants
Trainers
Programme Organisers
AD
Mentor
Quality Assurance
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Structured Exit Interviews
SEAP (SHO Educational Audit Project)
Annual SWACPO Report
HRC/Deanery Visiting Structure
Challenges/The Future
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Increase the number of training practices
in Swindon
Maintain Trainer Morale
TAGPRs
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New scheme, consultants/trainers often
unsure of their role
Ability to integrate when only part time in dept.
Isolation from GPRs/SHOs
Challenges/The Future
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TAGPR rotations cancelled in Bath
Demographic changes (part time working,
career breaks often taken during VTS)
Modernising Medical Careers
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Increased pressure on training practices
Increased pressure on consultants
Challenges/The Future
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Academy status
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Time pressure on Programme Organisers
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Increased pressure on practices
Increased pressure on consultants
expectation to be involved in F2 scheme (no time allowed
for this)
Department Of General Practice In Swindon
The Bath and Swindon Day
Release Course Steve Pigott
The Bath and Swindon Day
Release Course
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A typical day
Planning the course
On-line support
Quality Assurance.
A Typical Day
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Hot topics
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Critical appraisal
Politics
Soapbox
Workshops
Group work
Special Days
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Residential modules
Away days
Trainers’ days
Patch days
Curriculum Planning
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Outcome-based educational framework
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Swindon and Bath Trainers Groups. Sept 2002
MRCGP Exam blueprint
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The planning process
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http://www.mharris.eurobell.co.uk/resource/aims/intro.htm
http://www.mharris.eurobell.co.uk/resource/aims/praccont.htm
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Web-based support
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http://www.mharris.eurobell.co.uk/index.htm
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Timetable and plan for the term
Hot topics: critical appraisal
Preparation guides for group work topic
40+ on-line study guides
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http://www.mharris.eurobell.co.uk/resource/resource.htm
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Quality Assurance
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Weekly feedback
GPR representatives
Appraisals
DREEMS
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http://www.mharris.eurobell.co.uk/newgpr/dreem.htm
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Other issues Martyn Hewett
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Features of the team
Falling numbers of GPRs attending DRC
Supplementing Deanery funding with
contributions from pharmaceutical companies
Features of the team
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Postgraduate teaching qualifications
Michael Harris – MMEd
Jon Elliman
- ) both completing
Martyn Hewett - ) TLHP Cert Med Ed
Publications
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Numerous papers published
in green journal
Books
Ongoing educational research
programme
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Currently
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palliative care
evaluation of course in terms of outcomes
(progress of GPRs through MRCGP and
Summative Assessment modules, career choices)
Teambuilding day
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November 2004
Falling numbers of GPRs
attending DRC
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Sep-01
Sw indon
Bath
Sep-02
Sep-03
Sep-04
Sep-05
Reasons for falling numbers
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TAGPR posts
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Budget for GPRs in Bath/Swindon not
increased when
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do not routinely attend DRC during TAGPR
attachment
Bath TAGPR posts were created, and
Swindon TAGPR posts were included in 3 year
rotations
No funding for standalone GPR posts
Supplementing Deanery Funding
with contributions from pharma
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Core costs of running DRC (speakers fees
only):
£12,605
Amount received from Deanery:
£6,000
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this has not changed for over 10 years
amounts to £8 per GPR per day
Remainder from pharmaceutical sponsorship
This requires 3 representatives each DRC
day
Disadvantages of encouraging
exposure of GPRs to pharma reps
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Unpopular with GPRs
Adversely affects peer support
Affects the prescribing habits of GPRs (and
therefore new GPs)
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thereby increasing prescribing costs
Disadvantages of encouraging
exposure of GPRs to pharma reps
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Sabotages attempts of Course Organisers
and Trainers to encourage
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critical appraisal and
ethical approach to professionalism
Produces a whole generation of GPs who
believe that they are dependent upon the
pharmaceutical industry for
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their education
information about new developments
And finally …
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Presentation available at
www.mharris.eurobell.co.uk/resource/gpec/gpecpres.htm
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Any questions?