www.mddus.com WEBSITE TO SUPPORT


UNWELL DOCTORS A NEW website for doctors who may be concerned about their own health or that of a colleague has been launched by the GMC. Your Health Matters provides


detailed information and advice on the process involved when doctors are referred to the GMC with concerns relating to their health. The website also features case studies showing doctors with a range of health concerns. GMC chief executive Niall Dickson said: “It would be hard to overstate the anguish and trauma experienced by many doctors whose health has affected their ability to practise. While the GMC must never compromise on standards of patient safety, we are anxious to do what we can to support doctors with health problems and help them back to safe practice wherever possible.” Dr Clare Gerada, Chair of the Royal College of GPs and Medical


Director of the Practitioner Health Programme, said: “When a doctor is referred to the GMC it can be one of the most stressful and painful times of their lives. This [website] provides… timely information for doctors who may for health reasons be involved in the GMC’s fitness to practise procedures.”


The GMC has also announced


that it will be undertaking research to assess if its current fitness to practise procedures for doctors with health concerns are striking the right balance. MDDUS is very experienced in helping doctors with health problems that impact upon their fitness to practise. Whilst the GMC’s guidance does not expressly advise doctors to consult their medical defence organisation, MDDUS strongly advises members to seek our advice before contacting the GMC.


PART-TIME TRAINEES GET BREAK ON ARCP EVIDENCE


TRAINEES not studying on a full-time basis will no longer have to collect the same amount of evidence for their Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP) over a calendar year. The GMC has offered interim guidance to say that for ‘less than full


AUDIT AWARD


FOR TRAINEE GPS A CASH award is being offered to GP trainees conducting high quality audit projects. The RCGP Clinical Innovation and Research Centre is offering trainees


the chance to secure one of five £1,000 payouts. The Kuenssberg Award is given in recognition of projects that “demonstrate a change in clinical practice or service improvement as a direct result of the audit.” As well as a cash prize, winners will be invited to present their audit


work at the Society for Academic Primary Care Annual Scientific Meeting or at the RCGP Annual Conference. The award is open to Associates in Training and RCGP members in their


first five years of practice who are not currently in an academic department of general practice. The deadline for submissions is May 18, 2012 and more information is available at www.rcgp.org.uk/kuenssbergaward.


time trainees’ (LTFTTs) evidence can be gathered on a pro-rata basis. This approach means that LTFTTs will collect the same amount of evidence as full-time trainees, but over a longer period of time. Trainees will continue to have regular educational reviews (usually a minimum of once a year). For these interim reviews, supervisors make a judgment of progression for stage of training normally based on pro rata evidence as a minimum. However, there may be situations dependent on individual trainees performance and progression where more than the minimum evidence is required. The RCGP is in full agreement with the GMC that this recommendation is a fairer approach for those trainees affected and is encouraging GP Deaneries to implement the guidance as soon as possible. The purpose of the ARCP is to ensure that trainees are engaged


with the training process, have undertaken appropriate workplace- based assessment and are making satisfactory progress for their stage of training. At present, LTFTTs have to collect the same amount of evidence for their ARCP as their full-time peers. The RCGP agrees that the new approach will ensure that assessment does not take up a disproportionate amount of trainee learning time. The RCGP Postgraduate Training Board (PTB) has agreed that for


gateway ARCP reviews between specialty training years, a trainee must provide the minimum amount of evidence specified by the RCGP. For example, for a trainee working at 50 per cent of full time the required evidence at the end of their ST1 year may be compiled over the equivalent period - i.e. two calendar years. Since many LTFTTs are not synchronised with the usual assessment cycle of transition in specialty training years in August, the RCGP recommends that the Workplace Based Assessment guidance be applied from the next review scheduled. For the majority of LTFTTs this will be a ‘gateway’ ARCP in the summer of 2012.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16