The Royal College of General Practitioners’  Associates In Training newsletter							Vt
DECEMBER 2006
Reminders		Information		Experiences	Signposting
RCGP Events in December
12 December 2006	Minor Surgery					London	Read more
20 December 2006	Palliative Care Course					Warrington	Read more
Upcoming MRCGP Courses and Events
8 January 2007	MRCGP Examination Preparation Course					University of Portsmouth	Read more
20 January 2007	MRCGP Exam Preparation - Video Module					Mersey Faculty	Read more
21 January 2007	MRCGP Exam Preparation - Written & MCQ papers					Warrington	Read more
2 February 2007	3 Day MRCGP Preparation Course					Westwood Hall, Leeds	Read more
5 February 2007	5 Day MRCGP Preparation Course					London	Read more
10 February 2007	Mentor MRCGP Course					London	Read more
6 March 2007	3 Day MRCGP Preparation Course					Mersey Faculty	Read more
19 March 2007	5 Day MRCGP Preparation Course					London	Read more
Visit www.rcgp.org.uk/events at any time for the College calendar
Thought for the day			Reminders
The following is taken from a past paper of the current College exam: Six months ago, Mrs. Gunnery, aged 75, had Herpes Zoster (shingles) affecting her right eye. She presents with pain in the same area. How would you manage this consultation? Read more			Dates for the diary 22 January 2007 – 4 Feb 2007: Applications for the next recruitment campaign for posts starting in August 2007. Further information is available on the MTAS website Person specifications for applications to GP Specialty Training are also now available. Read more
			Remember to log VTR2 forms with the Certification Unit for any posts already completed.

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Planning Your GPR Year Use this guide written by a London Registrar to help you through your GPR Year
Month 1 Make sure you have completed all the paper work that ensures you are on the Performers List.	Month 2 Make sure you have had your VTR2 forms endorsed by your local deanery and then send them with a completed application form to the RCGP certification unit.			Month 3 Start thinking about suitable subjects for your Summative Assessment audit.		Month 4 If confident, attempt the SA MCQ this month.
Month 5 You should be well on the way to completing your video and audit for Summative Assessment.	Month 6 The SA video and audit should be submitted between now and month 9.			Month 7 The deadline for the MRCGP will be later in this month.		Month 9 The deadline for the video and audit is the end of the month. Also make sure you have applied to the PMETB.
Month 11 Your trainer should complete your structured trainer’s report. You should then send this with your VTR1 from to your local deanery.	Month 12 You will have hopefully have received your CCT by now. Contact your local GP contracts Officer at your PCT, to forward a copy of your CCT.			Niraj Patel is a GP Registrar in London. He has written A Guide to being GP Registrar which is available from the London Deanery. With his kind permission we are borrowing his hard work to bring you useful tips and handy hints to help you prepare and negotiate your Registrar Year. Thanks Niraj! - Ed
Blog Spot			What’s in a name?
Putting Out More Flags “Flying the flag for general practice and promoting the interests of GP trainees can be a difficult task. In hospital training posts we think of ourselves as belonging to the group of junior doctors. It’s only during the year spent in practice that we develop our identity as a group. However, it’s important that we effectively represent our views to the postgraduate deaneries, to the College, and within the BMA.” Read more from Kevin Gallagher			Suggestions to our usual address: vt@rcgp.org.uk
			British Journal of General Practice
			Access the BJGP online for free or by post at the very special rate of £18 for 6 months or 12 months for £30. The next subscription year starts in January.
Travelling Abroad
This month we visit South Africa. Click the link to learn more about working/training in South Africa.
VISA		Medical Registration			Why South Africa?
Applications by skilled workers in occupations for which there is a shortage (such as in the public sector medical field) are encouraged.		The Health Professions Council of South Africa requires you to register with the Medical and Dental Professions Board.			Game reserves; desert; mountain ranges; coral reefs; extreme sports; beach life; numerous incentives, including scare skills and rural allowances, to attract and retain qualified health care professionals.
GP Profiles Profiles of College Members showing you the possibilities within general practice
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. This month we profile the College’s new President, Professor David Haslam. Your name? David Haslam How long have you been in General Practice? Since August 1976 What three words would you use to describe general practice?   Varied, Valued, Vital If you were making your career choice now, what would it be? I always thought I’d like to write the script for a remake of M.A.S.H. Wouldn’t mind being Freddie Flintoff either. What made you decide to become a GP? I always wanted to be a doctor. Had a SI in psychiatry and mental health and people – best place for that is General Practice. My father was GP and my brother was GP. A genetic interest, you could say! Read more about Professors Haslam’s career.