Proposed Work Areas
The Forum has an ambitious agenda of work area
to tackle over its 2 year pilot.
At present the proposed work areas are:
Communication
- To develop an e-communication system for Forum members
- To develop a web-based virtual communication resource for
communication between Rural Forum members, with potential to link
with other healthcare professionals
- To disseminate College policies and priorities to rural
members
- To survey members’ views to inform College consultations and
policy
- To communicate with geographical faculty representatives on UK
Council to inform them of rural practice issues for Council
business
Continuing Professional Development
- To develop a series of e-modules to support the educational
needs of rural GPs
- To co-ordinate the development of, and to run courses and
educational interventions for rural doctors
- To establish a virtual support group for Members of the Rural
Forum wishing to apply for Fellowship
Revalidation
- To engage with the development and implementation of the
revalidation process
- To support members through the appraisal and revalidation
process.
- To work with Central College to support Rural Forum members to
develop portfolio material for revalidation
Policy / Influence
- To liaise with national agencies who have a legitimate interest
in rural healthcare
- To develop policy on rural practice and to ensure that all
College policies are “rural proofed”
- To work collaboratively with national councils and geographical
faculties to meet regional needs
- To review the applicability of the federation model for rural
practices
Research
- To promote research in rural healthcare and rural practice by
identification of rural healthcare topics that require research and
supporting applications to RCGP CIRC and grant-giving bodies
Education
- To influence policy to ensure recruitment and retention of GPs
in remote and rural practices
- To engage with the RCGP Post Graduate Training Board in
development of the future GP curriculum
- To engage with the PTB in encouraging the inclusion of a rural
element in the extension of training to five years