Teaching Practices
All GP training practices have to be visited and approved by the GP Sub-Committee of the Oxford Regional Committee for Postgraduate Education and Training. The selection criteria are rigorous, and trainers have to be re-approved regularly. They also attend regular courses to update their teaching skills, and participate in local trainers groups. Training practices are committed their role in education and have to demonstrate above average standards of patient care, management and premises. All trainers set aside protected time for regular tutorials which would normally be two hours a week. In addition, they, their partners and members of the practice team offer day to day teaching and support as and when problems arise.
The general practice year is a very important part of the vocational training scheme. You can expect to take part in constructing a teaching and learning programme which will be modified according to your personal needs by a series of joint reviews with your trainer. There will be an introductory period and a system of informal assessment which will help you to see how you are progressing. In addition the Reading Scheme has a more formal mid-term assessment at the half way point, the object of which is not to produce a pass/fail assessment but rather to highlight areas of strengths and weaknesses and to suggest constructive ways to spend the remainder of the year.
All GP registrars must also complete the MRCGP examination in order to practice. This consists of a multiple choice paper; a clinical skills assessment and completion of the work place based assessment. This has now become a national & legal requirement . Your trainer and course organisers will help you to prepare for this assessment.
After an introduction period you will be able to develop your own consulting sessions in practice, and your workload will increase gradually during the year. You will not be expected to do more than a full-time partner in the practice. There are prescribed sessions (minimum of 12 per year) OOH sessions run by the Out-Of-Hours PCT Service, Westcall. During on-call periods a qualified instructor and supervisor will always be available for consultation and support.
Teaching methods include formal and informal tutorials, review of patients' records and using videotapes to monitor consultations. Various members of the practice, including other partners, the practice manager, practice and community nurses and health visitors, will be included in the teaching programme. Visits to places of special interest may be arranged.
A list of practices available will be given to you when you are short listed and are available on the website. At present there are plenty of practices to give you a variety of choice and you will be asked for your preferences. In addition some practices may be able to accommodate a registrar for full time training for less than a year or for part time training. Candidates for these posts should already have adequate experience in hospital SHO posts. They are suitable for doctors who have not wished to commit themselves to stay in one place for a full three years or need a flexible training programme.