The RCGP Curriculum for GP Speciality Training has undergone a transformation since 1st August 2007, both in its delivery and content. All doctors intending to become GPs now have to apply to enter a GP speciality training programme as GP Specialist Registrars (GPStRs).
The standard programme is for 3 years, of which 18 months is now delivered from within general practice. The remaining 18 months is spent in other settings ranging from acute trusts to community trusts, with a minimum of 3 other placements ranging from 3-6 months in duration. For details of the different schemes within Severn Deanery (click).
Severn Deanery also offers additional specialist schemes. Leadership scholars and Educational scholars spend an additional month during the third year of training (ST3) and Academic registrars have an additional full year working 8 sessions attached to the department of general practice in Bristol.
The RCGP is responsible for maintaining and updating the content of the content of the GP curriculum. GPs are expected to achieve competence within a list of 12 competency areas across a range of topic areas defined by curriculum statements.
In order to demonstrate competence and fitness to be licensed as a GP, trainees have to pass three separate assessments: The applied knowledge test (AKT), clinical skills assessment (CSA) and Workplace Based Assessment (WPBA). Severn Deanery has produced some practical guidance sheets to help with WPBA.
The record of training, record of assessments, supervisor reviews and personal learning log are kept on a secure on-line facility - the e-portfolio
Each GPStR has an educational supervisor who will support and monitor the training over the training programme.
There is a self-assessment tool for trainees to use to identify learning needs from the curriculum.
After every 12 months and at the end training, the progression and achievement of competencies will be reviewed by the annual review of competence progression (ARCP) panel.