Plymouth GP Vocational Training Scheme

Welcome to the Plymouth GPVTS Website

Hello and welcome to the Plymouth GPVTS.

We are based near to Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital in the South West in the glorious county of Devon.

We are blessed with not only the finest GP training opportunities available but also with the enviable lifestyle opportunities that being a GP in the sunny South West of England can offer.

Our trainees tell us they love their training, and many stay in the area after completion.

But don’t just take our word for it! See what some of our current and past trainees have to say…

Resources for International Medical Graduates

We recognise that many of our trainees will have gained their primary medical qualification outside the UK and that while some will already have extensive experience, others may be new, or relatively new, to both the UK and the NHS.

We recommend you take a look at this website which is run by two Core Medical Trainees from Plymouth and has much information that will be helpful for those new to UK practice:

Road to UK

About Our Scheme

The scheme is run by our educational team. The team includes the Plymouth GP Trainers, whose role is largely one to one teaching in the GP practice setting, and three Training Programme Directors who are responsible for delivering the weekly educational programme. The programme is co-ordinated by our administrator from Health Education England.

We consistently achieve some of the best feedback in the GMC National Training Survey (NTS) and exam pass rates in the country.

We have an intake of approximately 25 trainees per year, as well as a few MOD trainees who attend the teaching programme and spend part of their training in civilian GP practices. We are also keen to embrace the various opportunities available to trainees such as less than full time working, deferred entry, taking prior experience into account to reduce training length (CEGPR (CP) / ACTF) and we have access to some special funding for certain rotations, to encourage recruitment to hard-to-fill specialties and locations.

Rotations for the 3 year GP training schemes always offer some general practice experience in Year 1 and 2, together with a mixture of hospital-based jobs, usually based in or near Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital, or other local community hospitals or placements.age you to join us.

Listen to 2019 ST1, Malik, talk about his experience of working at St Luke’s Hospice, the base for our Palliative Care placement

The 3rd year of your training will be spent in one of our training practices, all of which are specially selected as offering high-quality general practice and a great training experience. They range in size from 5,000 to 43,000 patients and geographically from the inner city practices of Plymouth to the rural and coastal practices of East Cornwall, West Devon, and the South Hams. This offers real diversity of training opportunities.

We also work closely with our local research colleagues, Global Health Collaborative, and Peninsula Medical School. This provides additional opportunities for you to enhance your training, and through HEE we also offer extensions to training to undertake further projects.

Peninsula Medical School also offers academic opportunities from research, postgraduate qualifications, and the opportunity to do some teaching, that is if you’re not too busy with everything else.

We will support you into your first years of GP work through close links to our RCGP First5 colleagues, and Fellowships for recently qualified trainees.

Why would you want to train in Plymouth?

As well as a wonderful GP training experience, Plymouth is enviably positioned with access to the beautiful beaches, dramatic moorland, rolling countryside and a range of cultural opportunities.

Our coast is a dream for surfers, sailors, divers and anybody else who enjoys getting wet in or on the sea. With lots of schools and clubs there are plenty of opportunities for complete beginners, and for those preferring dry feet the entire coastline has a footpath around it offering 630 miles of exploring.

From the edges of the city rise the 365 sq miles of the Dartmoor National Park.

This offers fantastic opportunities for hardy outdoor types, such as climbing, mountain biking, canoeing, fishing and trekking. For those preferring more gentle pursuits, the natural beauty, cosy pubs and pretty walks along river valleys provide a perfect antidote to the ward round or surgery.

Plymouth City Centre doesn’t win any beauty contests, but it is being developed rapidly, with a new shopping area, and lots of waterfront development.

There is a good theatre, cinemas, and the Pavilions is a venue for touring bands and comedy. Plymouth is also developing an enviable breadth of arts events, such as the annual Illuminate festival.

The Barbican and Royal William Yard offer pubs, cafe culture and dining at the water’s edge, while the Hoe offers wide-ranging views across the natural harbour of Plymouth Sound, and even a dip in the waterfront lido, if it’s warm enough. The Hoe stages a range of exciting events from the spectacle of America’s Cup sailing to the British Fireworks Championships.

Take a short ferry ride and you’re in the Mount Edgcumbe Country Park with its gardens, beaches and views.

Find out more about what Plymouth has to offer