Types of Doctors in GP Training

Depending on the qualifications attained by the GP trainers the following DiTs may be attached to the practice:

Foundation Programme

This is a two year programme, following on from graduation from medical school.   The programme provides generic training to develop skills in communication, consultation, patient safety and team work.

FY1 – Foundation Year 1
Foundation year – usually undertaken in hospital.

FY2 – Foundation Year 2
Foundation year – usually undertaken in hospital although there may be a short placement with a GP practice.

There is information available about F2 placements in GP at http://www.primarycare.severndeanery.nhs.uk/ under the ‘Training’ section.

If successful in the foundation programme, DiTs may apply for the specialist GP training as GP specialty training registrars (GPStR) which consists of:

Speciality Training (GPSTs)

ST1 – Specialty Training Year 1
From August 2021, the first year of training is now spent in either 2 hospital posts or in one hospital and one GP post. The DiT will have an educational supervisor who will then usually also be their GP trainer when they are an ST3 based in a practice. They will also need to attend a certain number of training sessions (Half Day Release Course) run by Swindon GP Education, usually on Wednesday mornings

ST2 – Speciality Training Year 2
The second year of training, with a six month placement in a GP practice. This placement will be a different placement to the ST3 year. They will also need to attend a certain number of training sessions (Half Day Release Course) run by Swindon GP Education, usually on Wednesday mornings

ST3 – Speciality Training Year 3
This is the final year of training. In order to achieve the nMRCGP, DiTs spend a year with a practice. This is an opportunity for them to be mentored and tutored to increase clinical knowledge, develop their consulting skills and understand how a GP business runs and is managed. ST3s also need to attend regular training events run by Swindon GP education based at Great Western Hospital they need to achieve a certain level of attendance.

Typically DiTs are with a practice for a year and within this time they will undertake their Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) and Applied Knowledge Test (AKT).

They also need to achieve a number of learning objectives and keep an e-portfolio of their achievements which will go towards their Workplace Based Assessment (WPBA)

Their tutor should have access to the DiTs e-portfolio.

Doctors in Training will need their tutor to sign them off as competent. The tutor will need to do a Clinical Supervisors Report (CSR) which is an assessment of four areas (relationships, diagnostics, management and professional).  The evidence for this report is collected from consultation observation, case based discussion and multi-source feedback.

NB The GP trainer in the ST3 year is the Educational Supervisor for the whole of the three years of training. As such they are responsible for the monitoring of ePortfolios, assessments and completion of Clinical Supervisor reports for their DiT. DiTs are encouraged to visit their practice on a regular basis throughout their training, eg 1 day every two months as part of their study leave allowance. This benefits both the DiT and practice in helping to make learning from hospital posts much more relevant and introduce trainees to general practice.

• Ensure relevant staff are aware of the GP education programme (at Great Western Hospital). This comprises mostly of attendance at presentations/lectures/workshops known as the Half Day Release Course (HDRC). These normally take place on Wednesday mornings for GP ST1, ST2 and ST3 Doctors in Training. Attendance requirements vary for each training year. NB These formal teaching events are mandatory for the relevant DiTs.
• Have an understanding of the key elements of the RCGP curriculum and think about learning opportunities that might feed into that curriculum.
• Ensure that the multi-source feedback is completed for a registrar.  The registrar will email round a link to all relevant staff and ask them to complete feedback.