MRCGP - some rule changes

Sue Rendel, the MRCGP chief examiner has just announced some MRCGP rule changes about how long a pass at AKT and CSA is valid for, the number of attempts you can make and when you can take AKT or CSA.

• AKT and CSA passes will now be valid until you get your CCT (certificate of completion of training) - in the past they only lasted for three years.
• For new trainees you will only be allowed four attempts at both the AKT and CSA. For existing trainees you can make unlimited attempts as long as you still have a valid training number.
• And finally AKT can only be taken during ST2 and CSA only in ST3.

I think that the biggest impact these changes will have is for doctors taking maternity leave and coming back part time. In the past if you did AKT in ST2, then took maternity leave and came back part time, you could easily find that your AKT pass had expired before you finished your training.

Now it will not!

Swapping posts!!!

I had an email from a new doctor to the scheme who starts in August asking if he could swap his rotation. The answer is a categorical NO!!!

The Deanery say we can't, we don't have the capacity to arrange swaps, personnel and practices have already been informed about the doctors that are coming so I am afraid that the answer is NO SWAPS!

Well, to be honest we do occasionally arrange swaps under limited circumstances. We maybe able to swap GP posts (as long as it does not upset the rota etc etc), we occasionally make mistakes in our rota planning (ie put two doctors into one post, miss doctors off the rota) and if we have made a mistake will ask doctors to swap inorder to rectify our mistakes and we have also arranged swaps inorder to make room for doctors requiring remedial or extra training. But that is it - the usual answer to requests to swap is NO.

New practice - have you been in contact?

If you are starting in a new GP training practice in August then you need to get in contact with the practice and bring them the documentation that they will need to see before you start in your post. You need to complete some WYCSA forms and will required to show your original GMC certificate and birth certificate or passport. You need to ensure that your Medical Defence insurance is up to date and will cover you whilst working in general practice. You get reimbursed the cost of this insurance but you need to organise it first. You will also need to bring a P45 form from your last employer and finally make sure that your car insurance will cover you for using your car whilst driving.

It all seems a bit complicated but unless it is all done you won't get paid!

Why blog?

This is the first blog on the new Dewsbury, Wakefield and Pontefract GP Training blog site. As per normal convention the first blog is about why write a blog? The main reason is that I am about to revamp our website, move it to a new domain name and I want to link the blog to the first page in order to keep it up to date and fresh. Rhubarb, Rhubarb .... (the best GP Training Newsletter in the world!) is about to end and I want the blog to replace it. My thinking is that small amounts of news will update the website and be easier to maintain. I intend to send the blog text round our Google group to keep subscribers up to date.

The Dewsbury, Wakefield and Pontefract GP training scheme provides GP training for doctors who want to become GPs in hospitals and GP training practices across Dewsbury, Wakefield and Pontefract - bit like what it says on the tin! I am starting this now so that I will have some content when we update the website. This blog and any comments is open to everyone on the www - so our current trainees should use moderation in commenting about any posts, please.

You do not know who might be reading it!