The teaching is aligned to cover the topics within the GP curriculum. There is a mixture of Consultants and Peer Pod led sessions.
GPST3 trainees have their session on a Wednesday morning, along with GPST1 and GPST2 trainees in a Primary Care rotation or Integrated Training Post.
There is a lunchtime teaching session on Wednesday lunchtimes for GPST1 and GPST2 Trainees, however we welcome any GPST3 Trainees who would like to attend.
CRESH GP STS half day release course – What is it for?
- To act as a bridge between hospital based practice and the more independent working as a General Practitioner.
- To develop clinical and inter personal skills fit for the purpose of independent general medical practice.
- Awareness and attainment of knowledge and skills above and beyond those required for the MRCGP.
- Development of a strategy to cope with the demands of primary care.
- Managing change
- Lifelong adult learning
- Personal Learning plans
- Building a support network
Why have a half day release as well as tutorials in the Practice?
There are some things within the learning needs of GP Registrars that are best addressed within a group environment – these include
- Feedback
- Shared experiences and a broader perspective
- Peer support including dealing with feelings and emotions
- Rehearsal (role play)
- The opportunity to be yourself
- Time to reflect
- Specialist resources
The GP STS scheme can also cover areas that the Trainer finds difficult to deal with in the tutorial.
CRESH Practices and location
The 23 practices that provide the General Practice component of the GP STS training are split into 4 distinct areas; North comprising Warlingham, Caterham and Oxted. Central comprising of Merstham, Redhill, Reigate, Horley & Smallfield. South is based in Crawley and its subsidiary towns comprising of Ifield, Broadfield, Maidenbower and Langley Green and finally the West area comprising of Dorking, Newdigate, Leith Hill & Brockham.
The area covered by the scheme is midway between London and the South Coast, about 35 minutes from Central London by train. Gatwick airport is in the centre of our patch and Brighton and the south coast 30 minutes away by car or train.
Crawley is an early example of the “New Towns” having been subject to significant expansion in the late 1950’s and 1960’s. Like Milton Keynes Crawley is famous for its roundabouts. The current population is over 100,000 and the proximity of Gatwick airport means that there is almost full employment. There is a wide mix of social and ethnic groups. The people who originally moved to the new town are now forming an ageing population and the age distribution of the area as a whole mirrors that of the UK.
Redhill and Reigate are the two towns to the north of the area covered by CRESH. They are old established towns just outside the M25. Although much of the population is prosperous there are areas of significant social deprivation within the borough.