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Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction. - John F Kennedy
Using self-directed learning groups
Steve Crone, chief executive of the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, explores how self-directed learning groups can combat sessional GP isolation
partnerships being made available, sessional GPs are growing in numbers, each year brings more locums and salaried appointments. The NASGP estimates that 42% of GPs currently work on a sessional basis (25% locums and 17% salaried). Sessional GPs are becoming the frontline of primary care – with potential implications for patients, sessional GPs and primary care services in general.
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Isolation The research, which the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund (RMBF) commissioned from Durham University, showed that professional isolation is a recurring problem for many sessional GPs, and that while some Deaneries, PCTs and GP practices have a good track record of supporting sessional GPs across the UK, this is often patchy. The RMBF provides financial support and
ith more and more doctors qualifying as GPs, and fewer
specialist money advice for doctors and their dependants in times of need and so has first-hand experience of the sort of problems that sessional GPs face. The applications for help
that the RMBF receives show that, because locums don’t have the same employment protection as their colleagues with salaried contracts, locums can be particularly vulnerable if accident or illness strikes. This is why, in addition
to commissioning research into the needs of sessional GPs, the RMBF also undertook research exploring the value of self-directed learning groups (SDLGs) as a way of helping to reduce professional isolation by providing local networks of peer support and continuing professional development.
Running self-directed learning groups SDLGs are groups of GPs who regularly meet to address their professional development needs, typically for educational purposes
and peer support. The educational content of these meetings is chosen by the group members (self- directed). The venues range from members’ houses to local restaurants, and meetings usually take place on weekday evenings. Group members are primarily sessional GPs, but members can include GP principals and registrars. Typical meetings involve discussion around clinical topics, examination of patient cases or significant events, an external speaker or general chat around support issues. Establishment, administration and maintenance of SDLGs is done by the groups themselves (often by one person/group leader). Although pockets of funding are made available to help with catering costs, administration and paying speakers, the majority of groups appear to be self-funding. Historically, these groups
have been set up by the sessional GPs themselves,
in response to perceived local needs. Sometimes the NASGP or proactive deaneries and PCTs have acted as a catalyst. There is no central support (administrative or financial) for SDLGs available on a national basis, although there is varying support from individual deaneries across the UK. The NASGP website provides a useful central resource for information.
RMBF research The project consisted of preliminary research into existing SDLGs and interviews with key stakeholders to explore the issues around value, logistics, delivery and sustainability. This was followed by the organisation of sub-regional ‘hub’ meetings for sessional GPs, with meetings being held in different parts of England, to facilitate the establishment of local SDLGs. The RMBF ‘hub’ meetings attracted an average of 33 sessional GPs and of the delegates, some were already members of local SDLGs;
PRACTICAL PROBLEMS
SESSIONAL GP | VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 2 | 2011 | UNITED KINGDOM
www.mps.org.uk
MARCUS CLACKSON/
ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
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