doctors in training

Mid Sussex Healthcare: a GP Training Practice

For many years Mid Sussex Healthcare has been involved in GP Training, at one stage in all 3 of our practices. We believe that training the GPs of the future brings a fresh perspective to our own practice and benefits the team as we all learn through teaching. This of course benefits patients in bringing a fresh outlook and offering more daily appointments in turn. Training practices tend to retain high levels of patient satisfaction while creating organizations in which the resident GPs have been shown to improve their own knowledge and skills. Of course patient safety is paramount at all times and our GP trainees (known as Registrars) are supervised closely and undergo regular assessments both internally at the practice (reviewing video consultations with patient consent, real case-based discussions, direct observation of procedural skills), at their local weekly teaching program and through the Royal College of General Practitioners at the now mandatory MRCGP (membership) examination.

As a practice we are assessed by the Regional Educational Deanery prior to undertaking GP training and at regular intervals thereafter. Our initial assessment took place in November 2008, which we passed with flying colours. Further to this, the GP Trainers (currently Drs Hugo Wilson & John Allman) are assessed according to stringent national criteria. The particular emphasis is on maintaining good medical standards, developing our teaching skills, patient safety, practice protocols. In addition our teaching skills are peer reviewed regularly. This of course impacts on our day to day availability but on balance we are able to offer more appointments through having GP Registrars on site.

This latest educational development brings qualified doctors to MSHC for practical training in General Practice. Some of these doctors will be in the second of their two 'Foundation Years' after qualifying as a doctor (FY2 doctors), or they will have been selected for 3 years of specific specialist training (hence ST) in General Practice. The FY2 doctors will be attached to the practice for 4 months. The more experienced ST doctors will spend a block of 4 months during each of their first two years of training (ST1 and ST2) under the supervision of their trainer. In the final, ST3, year these doctors spend a year at the same practice and develop in-depth experience of General Practice medicine.

All of us at Mid Sussex Healthcare are delighted to be engaged in Post Graduate Medical Education and hope that as patients of our practice you realize the beneficial effects of having enthusiastic GP Registrars in house. Please accept their services as an extension of our own. We are confident that, as we learn more about good general practice through teaching, our service to our patients will improve still further.

Dr Hugo Wilson
Dr John Allman
8th October 2009

Our current (& planned) Doctors in Training are:

One Year Attachment
ST3 Dr Stephen French (5th August 2009 - 3rd August 2010)

4 Month Attachments
ST2 Dr Nicola Olesiuk (5th August - 1st December 2009)
ST1 Dr Adrian Grigore (2nd December - 6th April 2010)
FY2 Dr David Lupini (2nd December - 6th April 2010)

ST2 Dr Padma Manyam (7th April - 3rd August 2010)
FY2 Dr Gareth Chapman (7th April - 3rd August 2010)

Frequently Asked Questions about FY2s:

What is a Foundation Programme Year 2 FY2 Doctor?
Junior Doctor Training has changed radically in the past 3 years, with a view to improving the quality of professional education. Following completion of a minimum of 5 years undergraduate training at Medical School, Doctors enter the 2 year Programme, split into FY1 which is mostly Hospital based and FY2. The purpose is to provide a far broader range of experience than the previous pre-registration year.

How is the Foundation Programme training different?
Over the 2 years there are 6 four month posts, which can include General Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Anaesthetics, Psychiatry & Obstetrics for example. During the 2nd year, FY2 Doctors can elect to undertake one 4 month post in General Practice.

Are FY2 doctors qualified/registered?
FY2 doctors are fully qualified and GMC registered. They can see patients independently but they are under the supervision of the Clinical Supervisor GP (Dr Hugo Wilson, and at times of absence, Dr John Allman). The Clinical Supervisor GP has to undertake further accredited training.

What are the benefits of this?
The Foundation programme exposes all doctors of the future to general practice: it is a unique opportunity to show what work we do: how much we do and what primary care has to offer patients and the workforce.

Having FY2 doctors in the practice acts as a stimulus for the whole practice in terms of developing skills, and learning together.

It is fun and stimulating, and helps keep the whole Practice Team up to date.

Video Consultations
There may be times when the Training Doctor will be videoing consultations for their learning. This is a powerful tool in developing effective communication skills and is viewed by their trainer alongside the FY2 doctor and remains completely confidential. We always ask you to sign your permission beforehand and then again afterwards. You will be given the choice to decline this offer, and your decision will be fully respected and will in no way affect the care you are given.