Hello and Welcome
Congratulations on getting onto the Bradford GP Training Scheme, we’re looking forward to meeting you. We hope you are excited about the training journey ahead of you. However, we also appreciate that some of you may be feeling apprehensive, overwhelmed or even worried at this particular moment.
In order to ease the stress and help things go more smoothly for you, we’ve put together this little handout for you. Please take a moment to read it. In it you will find details of the forthcoming induction programme which is mandatory for you to attend. We’ve also pulled together some of the most important things to get your head around at this stage (which we will cover at induction too).
As for anything else - try not to worry too much; it will all make sense when the time is right. And don’t forget that we the Training Programme Directors (TPDs) are here to help you. Feel free to drop us a line. We hope you find this guidance helpful and that it makes the transition easier. We look forward to meeting you all at our two day induction event.
Regards,
Gemma, Nick, Jess, Lucy, Gareth, Hasna & Abid
Bradford Training Programme Team
The Two-Day Induction ...
There are two types of induction programmes you will go through when you join our scheme. The first is the induction programme that we (the scheme) run. Then there is the induction programme your hospital department or GP post will run (and will happen every time you move to a new post). The departmental inductions usually cover the basic essentials that you need to get you working in that post. Our scheme induction is different – it helps orientate you for what you are ultimately trying to achieve (despite the individual requirements of each post). It helps bring the focus back onto you becoming a GP! Both types of induction are important and attendance at them is mandatory. Our schemes induction programme is being held on 9th & 10th August 2018. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE BOOKED STUDY LEAVE WITH YOUR NEXT POST – do this now if you have not already done so. If your next post is a hospital specialty, this means booking things off with both the department and the rota coordinator (this varies from department to department so ask your Consultant who it is and for their e-address). Any problems, please let us know.
The scheme induction is held at The Midland Hotel, Forster Square, Cheapside, Bradford, BD1 4HU. Please be aware that parking can be a nightmare.
Three things to do before the Induction Days...
1. Please bring a picture or photograph of something that says something about you – where you come from or your journey to date.
2. Please complete the questionnaires sent by Gemma (Admin.GP@bthft.nhs.uk) beforehand and bring them with you on the day.
3. Try and have a think about where you would like to do your GP posts.
Bradford GP Training Two-Day Induction
The Induction Programme – Thursday
0900 Arrival and refreshments
0915 Introduction to the induction course and each other
0930 Introductions in small groups – ‘2 things and a lie’
1030 Introductions in another small group - ‘How did I get here?’
1100 TEA & COFFEE
1115 What makes a good GP?
1230 MRCGP, E-Portfolio and educational programmes on scheme
1330 LUNCH
1430 Learning Styles and Personality Questionnaires
1530 TEA & COFFEE
1545 Reflection and Evaluation
1600 CLOSE
The Induction Programme – Friday
0900 Opening exercise – ‘Towers’
1015 Posts on the scheme
1115 TEA & COFFEE
1130 Reflective Writing Exercise
1300 LUNCH
1400 Don’t be afraid to ask the STs on the scheme (your opportunity to ask the
ST3s without us being there)
1500 Q&A session with TPDs (all TPDs)
1545 TEA & COFFEE
1600 ‘Extra info’ handouts; forms regarding GP post choice
1630 Evaluation game & Evaluation forms
1700 FINISH & CLOSE
Five Things You Need to Do..
You should have been advised by our scheme Administrator of where your first post will be, if you are at all unsure please contact our Administrator on Admin.GP@bthft.nhs.uk.
1. Book your study leave to attend our scheme’s induction course? If you are in a hospital post, you need to let the Rota Coordinator know as well as the hospital department you will be working in. We also run Modular Courses that explore the work-place based assessment (WPBA) and the e-Portfolio in more detail. As a new starter, you should book on and book the appropriate Study Leave. The Rota Co-Ordinators have been notified of the induction and WPBA course dates, however you should still make contact with them to confirm the leave required. The dates of Induction and the WPBA Modular course can be found on the trainee page. You are expected to attend both days for induction and one day for each of the WPBA modular course dates.
2. Register with the RCGP as an AIT – THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND YOU NEED TO DO THIS BEFORE YOU START THE SCHEME. Once registered, you are then called an “Associate in Training” (AiT). Registration is online with an initial registration fee which is confirmed by email. Your ePortfolio will be activated between 24 and 48 hours after registration with a welcome pack sent approximately 10 days after. Click here to register online, There is an enquiry line for AiTs (email ait@rcgp.org.uk or telephone 020 7344 3078) for any registration queries; information is also available on the College website (www.rcgp.org.uk/ait under the What’s New section).
3. Make sure your defence union subscription is all up to scratch. Professional Indemnity Insurance is compulsory. Please make sure you have extra cover for being a GP Trainee.
4. Join the (British Medical Association) BMA. Some of you will experience employment problems at some point and the BMA can be incredibly helpful (and protective of you). The BMA can’t help you if you get in bother and then decide to join them afterwards. The number of Trainees we have had who have had this happen to them always say that they wished they had subscribed beforehand. It’s a relatively small price to pay (compared to all the other MRCGP stuff).
5. If your first post is in GP you must speak to the Practice Manager for the practice you are going to in order to arrange your contract, practice based induction and other paperwork. If you don’t know the details of the Practice Manager, then contact our Administrator on Admin.GP@bthft.nhs.uk. You should have also received a copy of the new starter checklist detailing the checks that the practice will carry out. If you have not received this please contact our Administrator who will forward this onto you.
This is an amazing website and holds a wealth of information expressed in a simple and readable way. There’s information about the whole MRCGP training pathway, resources to help you with the CSA and AKT exams and even more clinical/educational material under ‘Online Resources’. We strongly recommend that you familiarise yourself with this website. Nearly everything about GP training is on there somewhere. If you’re ever unsure of anything, check it out on here first. It's also an amazing educational resource for wider learning too. The site has been developed and is maintained by Dr. Ramesh Mehay, a Bradford GP Trainer and a former Training Programme Director for the Bradford GP Specialist Training Programme.
Out Of hours Sessions
In GP posts you will be expected to engage in Out of Hour (OOH) sessions (i.e. on-call sessions for General Practice). You are required to complete a total of 36 hours per six months. These are compulsory. There are three types of OOH sessions; PCC (base), mobile (home visit) and telephone assessment (call centre) sessions. We recomend you do a mixture of all three types.
PCC Sessions
PCC (Primary Care Centre) or base OOH sessions are in Bradford held at Eccleshill Community Hospital and the Bradford Royal Infirmary from 6.30pm through till 8am on weekdays and 24 hours on the weekends and bank holidays until the next working day morning 8am. These are essentially normal surgery layout where you will be seeing patients who need to see a GP out of hours. You will need to bring your usual doctors bag with your normal equipment (thermometer, sphyg, Otoscope, ophthalmoscope etc.) for this session as well as your SMART card. You will be supervised by a GP OOH supervisor at all times during these sessions so there's always someone to discuss your cases with.
Remember If you're struggling to get OOH sessions for your desired dates remember you call always speak to the rota team at local care direct (the service provider organisation) to request to do sesisons at other sites out side brdaford (Huddersfield, Halifax, Otley, Ilkley, Skipton, Dewsbury, Wakefield, Pontefract and Leeds.
Mobile OOH sessions
Mobile OOH sessions run from Westbourne Green Hospital. these sessions involve visiting the housebound patients who can't come to the PCC to see a GP. Often these pateints will be palliative, housebound, elderly and/or frail. You will not be expected to use your own vehicle for these visits. There is a driver and vehicle provided and a again an OOH GP Supervisor will always accompany you on your visits. You will need to bring your usual doctors bag with your normal equipment (thermometer, sphyg, Otoscope, ophthalmoscope etc.) for this session as well as your SMART card.
Telephone Assessment
The third type of OOH session is a telephone assessment session. This involves working from one of the call centres either in Penine Business Park, Bradley or Lexicon House in Leeds. This involves taking calls from patients, nursing homes, ambulance crews and deciding on whether they need treatement, advice or seeing face to face. You can fax prescriptions to pharmacies across West Yorkshire from the call centres. you will have a specific induction for this role once you start. Again you will always be supervised by an OOH GP supervisor for the duration of your session - you're not alone!!
Booking OOH Sessions
To book sessions you can log on to the LCD rotamaster with your username and password (given to you at your separate OOH induction). If you don't have one please contact Naomi Assame at naomi.assame@lcdwestyorks.nhs.uk
Alternatively you can contact the rota team on rota@lcdwestyorks.nhs.uk or ring on 01484 421 803 to book into sessions. If for any reason your supervisor has not arrived or you are having problems you can always ring the duty manager for your session on 01484 421 803. If you are having any probelms with your OOH sessions please contact Dr. Abid Iqbal the TPD responsible for OOHs working at drabidiqbal@gmail.com
Holidays in June
This may be a bad idea because the ARCP panels are held then and many Trainees find they need to do a lot of work on their ePortfolios immediately before. Also the panel may require some additional information in order to ensure you have progressed satisfactarily.
Long holidays
If you want a long holiday (e.g. for your honeymoon, or to visit people in distant parts of the globe), please do not book it before talking to the rota co-ordinator (hospital) or Trainer/Practice Manager (GP) for the post you’ll be in when you want to go. In most hospital posts the rota won’t work if you take more than two weeks, and in some cases it’s hard for them to work round more than one week. In General Practice it may be difficult if several doctors are away at the same time.
Less than full time working (LTFT)
If you are likely to want to work part-time, it will be much easier to arrange in General Practice. For hospital posts, we can try and arrange job shares but if there is no one to share your post you may not be guaranteed a place in Bradford. Supernumerary part time posts are now only considered on health grounds (we hope this will change, but that is the current policy). Dr. Nick Price is the named TPD responsible for managing queries around LTFT posts. He can be contacted at nickprice62@gmail.com
Out of Programme Experience (OOPE)
This may be granted after one year on the scheme, with a view to obtaining clinical or research experience in a different setting, or a career break. Requests must be individually approved by the TPDs and the Deanery. The deadline is 31st July for OOPE the following August! So. In practice only usually possible at the end of ST2.
Struggling with Training?
If you find yourself in difficulty, please talk to us sooner rather than later. Remember that there are a number of people who will be available to you;
Your hospital Consultant if you are in a hospital post
Your GP Trainer if you are in a GP post
Your Educational Supervisor (this will be confirmed to you once you have started on the scheme)
Your TPD Advisor. Each Trainee is assigned to one of the five TPDs (this will be confirmed to you once you have started on the scheme)
Join the BMA now – they can help with employment problems.
There is a confidential counselling service free for Trainees (please speak to your designated TPD to acceess this)
Theres more information for designed for GP Trainees experiencing difficulty at www.bradfordvts.co.uk/educators/trainees-in-difficulty
