Day release
Small group work Telephone triage practice
ST1 and ST2
ST1s and 2s each have a half day of protected day release teaching alternate Tuesday afternoons in the postgraduate centre at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. This teaching is tailored to help you get the most out of your hospital jobs while keeping your focus on general practice. Topic based teaching is designed to help you in your preparation for the AKT and consultation skills teaching to help you become more a more effective doctor (and ultimately pass the CSA). We also run regular eportfolio sessions and feedback sessions where you have a say in planning your teaching for the next 6 months. Please see the VTS Timetable for further details.
We figure that you get plenty of exposure to hospital medicine through your day jobs in ST1 and 2 and so most of this programme is delivered by GPs with special interests in the topic being discussed or your programme directors. Occasionally we may invite hospital consultants or other members of the multi discipinary team in to share their expertise with you.
On several occasions throughout the year you will have the opportunity to engage in Problem Based Learning with the rest of your group.
Teaching starts at 1.30pm. We understand that in certain hospital jobs it will not be possible for you to attend every session. However we ask that you aim to attend as often as possiblem and at least half of the sessions timetabled on average over the year. Attendance records are kept and emailed to your Educational Supervisor.
ST3
National guidelines recommend that ST3s have at least a half day of central teaching every week. However, in Reading and Newbury we believe that a full day will prepare you better for your future careers in general practice. We therefore run a full day of teaching every Tuesday. The themes of this teaching are roughly divided into thirds:
- August- October: predominantly topic based teaching to help you in your preparation for the AKT
- November- February: an emphasis on consultation skills and preparation for the CSA
- March- July: preparation for the "real world" as an independant GP. This will include techniques for handling "difficult patients" not previously covered, financial,legal and employment matters, medical politics, clinical governance, CV and interview help as well as clinical topics of the groups choice which have not been previously covered in depth, for example, joint injections, sports medicine.
We use a wide range of teaching methods for example small group work, formal lectures, debate, discussion, practical exercises and video recording of consultations for discussion. These are delivered by hospital doctors, local GPs, national specilists, members of the local multidisciplinary team, and your programme directors. Please see the VTS Timetable for further details. A variety of professionally delivered courses are incorporated into this year. Some of these are provided free of charge, others carry a cost which you can usually use your study leave budget for. Courses offered typically include:
- Counselling skills
- 10 minute CBT
- GP update (roundup of latest evidence)
- Minor Surgery
- Mock CSA
- Therapeutic Rapport
- Substance Misuse
As in ST1 and 2, Problem Based Learning will be an integral part of your teaching programme and in addition you will have the opportunity to undertake Self Directed Learning sessions- a highlight of our programme for many. We also offer the opportunity of a week at a local hospice as part of ST3 and towards the latter part of the year encourage you to arrange a week long practice swap with one of your colleagues in order to experience a different type of general practice.
On some Tuesdays, we join with the registrars from the Windsor and Slough scheme for courses which benefit from a bigger group. A bigger group benefits from excellent speakers and the interaction of the two schemes. The venue rotates around both districts and you will need to keep an eye on the timetable so that you are aware of the venue.
Trainees on the scheme usually gel well as a group and often organise regular social activities as well as study groups for the MRCGP
Teaching is in the common room at the postgraduate medical education centre, RBH hospital unless stated otherwise on the timetable. Please arrive by 9.45am for housekeeping- the formal session will begin at 10am. If you are unable to attend the day release course for whatever reason you must let the Team know by phoning 0118 322 7680 (Tuesdays) or e-mailing reading.vts@royalberkshire.nhs.uk. Attendance records are kept and emailed to your Educational Supervisor.