Navigating through general practice training: Thoughts and reflections

摘要

Despite all the negativity that currently surrounds general practice I feel that there has not been a more exciting time to be a GP trainee. As I reflect on my time as a recent trainee, I hope to be able to provide some beneficial words for current Associate in Training (AiT) doctors at all stages of their training. GP training can resemble a minefield; the constant requirements of the ePortfolio, negotiating relevant clinical experience in hospital rotations, completing out-of-hours (OOH) requirements, and the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) examinations, to only name a few demands on your time. It nonetheless provides you with awealth of opportunities to listen and learn, grow, gain interests, and mature into a skilled generalist, at a time when trainees are being aggressively supported by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), Health Education England, and many others. A person who can provide valuable guidance and support during your training journey is your educational supervisor (ES). It is important to arrange an introductory meeting when starting ST1 and to meet at least a few times a rotation. This allows the ES and trainee to get to know each other, thereby improving the productivity and strength of the working relationship over the coming years. Hospital rotations as a GP trainee can sometimes feel like service provision and not very orientated towards general practice. Although it can be useful to be exposed to the full spectrum of secondary care specialities, tailoring it to general practice can make it even more worthwhile. You should discuss this with your clinical supervisor, to ensure that you can attend relevant clinics, book study leave and target those learning needs that can be identified from the RCGP GP curriculum for that current rotation. This may require careful negotiation and perseverance, but by doing so the training experience will be greatly enriched.