The Royal College of General Practitioners’

The Royal College of General Practitioners’

Associates In Training newsletter

AiT

February 2007

Reminders

Information

Experiences

Signposting

Thought for the Day

February AiT Contents

Quick Links

The following has been taken from a past paper of the College exam.

Your Health Visitor is concerned that Robert, aged 6 months, is not gaining weight.

How would you manage this case?

· Reminders

· Exam Update

· Shortage of GPs – College Comment

· GP Registrar Resources

· Complaining and Commenting in General Practice

· My Most Useful Surgery Instrument

· Career Profile

· Groups meeting in February

Reminders

VTR2 Forms must be logged with the Certification Unit. Get them signed off as you go and not at the last minute! Need a form? Download one here

Exam Update

Work is progressing on the new assessment which is termed nMRCGP. Further details are available here.

The October exam results have just been released.

Those who start training on or after 1st August 07.

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ALL these doctors will be required to complete the nMRCGP prior to issue of CCT.

Those who have commenced training prior to 1st August 07 who have not successfully completed any summative assessment modules by 31st July 07.

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ALL these doctors will be required to complete the nMRCGP prior to issue of CCT.

Those who have commenced training prior to 1st August 07 who have completed at least one component of summative assessment by 31st July 07.

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These doctors will have until 31st July 2008 to complete the summative assessment package.
If it is unlikely that they will complete training before 31st July 2008 it is advisable that they pursue the nMRCGP assessment.

The final date for acceptance of first time applications for the current examination for MRCGP will be Friday 9 February 2007. More information is available here

Shortage of GPs – College Comment

“We are very concerned to read of the reports on the NHS workforce which forecast GP shortages. This does not meet the aspirations of patients who want more good general practice. Everyone needs a good GP and both patients and GPs want better access and longer consultation times.

It does not make sense that opportunities for flexible training and for GPs to return to the NHS have been rescinded and training budgets, which are seen as 'soft' targets, are being cut to balance NHS service deficits. High quality training for GPs must be safeguarded and cannot be compromised, even in the short term. The RCGP urges immediate action to improve the quality and quantity of GP training, otherwise we face unacceptable situations such as that in Canada, where it has recently been reported that a significant proportion of the population do not have access to a family doctor.”

Professor Mayur Lakhani

GP Registrar Resources

The following is taken from the Medical Protection Societies GP Registrar newsletter, covering medico-legal topics that are important as you start working in general practice. MPS

Communication Skills

Confidentiality

Consent

Good practice

Medical Records

Prescribing

Complaining and Commenting in General Practice

My Most Useful Surgery Instrument

This College Information Sheet outlines the requirements and practical arrangements associated with the complaints system in general practice.

This Information Sheet will be of interest to GPs (particularly young doctors), as well as patients and the public. Information included in the document relates only to England unless stated.

Read GP and trainer, Dr Paul Vincent’s thoughts on his most useful instrument, courtesy of the BMJ.

Dr Mairi Scott, GP and Chair of RCGP Scotland – Career Profile

General practice is the most varied and variable of medical specialties.

In this section, we will be profiling various Members of the College’ careers in order to demonstrate the many possibilities open to you once you have qualified.

Your name?

Mairi Scott

How long have you been in General Practice?

12 Years

What words would you use to describe general practice?
RCGP Scotland asked many of the great GP’s of our times to describe the future GP in 100 words and there is so much in those…….they are rich, varied, eloquent and deeply moving…I could never compete.

What made you decide to become a GP?
Doctor Finlay.