GP Registrars are fully qualified and must have done at least two year's hospital medicine before they can start their General Practice Training. They are known as GP Specialist Registrars and the training lasts three years, most of the first two years takes place in Hospital but at least one year (including all of their final year) takes place in General practice. The whole practice is involved in training, although Dr Harvey is the trainer responsible for the Registrars. We all benefit greatly from having these young doctors in the practice. Learning and teaching is a two-way process and the Registrars help to keep us all up to date.
Registrars provide extra appointments in the practice which helps us to cope with our workload and hopefully makes it easier for you to see a doctor when you need to. They often have longer to talk to you than your own doctor would have. If they are not sure what is wrong with you, they can call for help.
Part of their training and successful completion of their course involves videoing their consultations. These videos are viewed afterwards by the registrars themselves and probably their trainer. Occasionally, they are viewed by other registrars as part of the training process, and they may be viewed by examiners (who are all GP Trainers) as part of the final assessment that ensures that all doctors are competent to practise unsupervised. We would ask you not to lightly refuse permission for your consultation to be videoed. You can always ask the doctor not to use the video if you don't like the way the consultation went. We always ask you to sign your permission beforehand and then again afterwards. If you change your mind, we won't view the video, which will be deleted.
We feel that teaching helps to keep the practice up to the highest standards.
FY2 Doctors
Following recent modernisation of the training and career structure of doctors in the NHS, the first two years after qualifying as doctors are now known as Foundation Year 1 (FY1) and Foundation Year 2 (FY2). One of the changes introduced as part of this modernisation is the idea that as many doctors as possible should experience a period of time in general practice regardless of their eventual chosen career in medicine. We in general practice support this wholeheartedly and are convinced that, regardless of the specialty they eventually choose, all doctors will benefit from an insight into the workings of general practice. Therefore, our practice now accommodates FY2 doctors for periods of four months as part of their training. They work closely with us and are under supervision throughout their time with us. We are sure that this arrangement will benefit patient care in the future.
