Benefits of Membership
Being active members of the College means that general
practitioners support the aims of the College and contribute to the
development of general practice as a discipline. In turn, the
College is always looking for ways in which to give members
tangible benefits as well as a range of other benefits as part of
their return on an annual subscription.
Eight of the best benefits for members in Scotland are
detailed below. A range of broader benefits are accessible by
viewing further information on the UK site.
Eight of the Best
1. Access to the web site -
Members' Only Area
The College in Scotland (like the College at
UK level) is using the web as a means of linking effectively with
members. This medium will give us opportunity to seek your views on
new issues, check your thoughts on latest developments, ask you
whether you would be interested in representing the College at
subject specific meetings or indeed be one of a panel prepared to
give comment on a wide range of issues, ideas and
developments.
2. A local office responding to
developments in your area
All members are affiliated with one of our regional
(faculty) offices. From here, staff work with a committee of
members, like you, to identify opportunities for educational and
social interaction, provide peer group meetings as required,
respond to initiatives in your postgraduate area and gather ideas
and thoughts on what your area thinks about UK and Scottish wide
developments. These regional faculty offices are always looking for
ways to provide you with a core level of service as well as
responding to your ideas. Members get a discount on many of the
activities where there is a small charge levied, but much of the
activity is free to members.
3. Opportunity to become
involved
The College is
an ideal medium for its members to become involved in areas of
general practice that interest them. Got an idea or a passion? Then
contact us to look at the opportunities to pursue this at UK,
Scottish or local level. We can also put you in touch with others
with a common interest. In the first instance please contact
Catherine Bolton,
PA to Head of RCGP Scotland on 0131 260 6800
who will be pleased to deal directly with your
enquiry.
4.
Help with continuing professional development
The College is
both a provider of educational opportunity and at the forefront of
developing initiatives that support members in becoming better at
what they do. Activities include: • Educational courses • PEP •
Accredited Professional Development • Revalidation In addition, we
have a number of other initiatives always being developed at UK,
Scottish and faculty level.
5. Supporting the driving forward
of quality in practice
The College is extremely active in the field
of improving your ability to provide the best patient care possible
- at UK, Scottish and faculty level. Through the College you can
choose to contribute to this process or look forward to benefiting
from the range of activities being undertaken on your behalf. These
include: • Standards of care at practice level • Quality
initiatives for you or your practice • Bringing guidelines closer
to you in the consultation process
6.
Working with the Parliament and others in NHS
Scotland
Devolution has brought decision making closer to the Scottish
people but the College can bring it even closer to you. We work on
behalf of our members with the Scottish Parliament, NHS
Scotland, the Scottish Executive, and other key decision makers.
Through the College, and the News and Views section of this site,
members can easily access the opportunity to influence
government.
7. Linking with
ideas/initiatives
Professional isolation can affect many of us even when
working in big practices. Do you value new ideas, want to share
your thoughts, link with like-minded people, test ideas or just
want to be aware of what else is going on? The chance is yours to
contribute to, or just to watch, the world round about you. Either
way, it is nice to know what is going on. The College can help of
course with initiatives like:
8. Telling it like it
is
It is frustrating to know there is a problem
in general practice and not know what to do about it. Well, the
College can offer members the chance to raise issues either with
the College itself, in partnership with other organisations (terms
and conditions being the speciality of SGPC) or in linking with
decision makers and contributing to developments. There is no doubt
the College works hard on behalf of its members (after all, it is
members who run it), but the more people who contribute to forming
ideas and opinions the more representative a body like the College
can become. There is no point complaining that the College doesn't
help you - you (the members) are the College - so do something
about it! This must be one of the most valuable aspects of
membership of an organisation like the College. If you would like
to find out more or raise an idea/issue, please contact
Ruth
Wallace Head of RCGP Scotland at 0131
260 6800 in the first instance.