Starting the Registrar Year
Starting the registrar year can seem daunting. The transition from hospital to general practice is a big one. Don’t worry, though. You will be really well supported by your trainer and the other doctors in your practice. Below you will find more about what to expect and a few tips on getting your year off to a good start.
Sitting In
For most registrars the first two weeks are mostly spent sitting in with various members of the practice team. It’s a chance to get to know your colleagues. Some will have roles unfamiliar to you from hospital practice. Ask them what they do and when you might ask for their help. You will also see that your GP colleagues may have quite varied consulting styles, but it can be hard to pick this up when the diagnostic content of the consultations is sometimes unfamiliar. It can be a good idea to sit in with the GPs again at the end of the year.
Tutorials
Your first tutorials will most likely be spent familiarising you with some basics of general practice including finding your way around the computer notes. You will also have some form of learning needs assessment which will help you and your trainer plan your year including future tutorials. You should include this needs assessment in your Personal Development Plans. You should also start to plan your Study Leave.
Keeping a Record of Your Learning
Most doctors are familiar with the need to keep a Personal Development Plans. This Personal Development Plans page includes some guidance.
You will be keeping some records in your ePortfolio but there remain doubts about how you can keep this for the longer term and there are lots of things that don’t fit in there. It’s a good idea to keep a record of your referrals and admissions (maybe in a hardback notebook or a computer file) and their outcomes.
The same notebook can be used during consultations to jot down any topics you think you need to look up or ask about later. It is an excellent way of recording your learning for future appraisals. Record patients by their computer number, not their name, or you cannot legally take it out of the practice at the end of the year.
The Day Release Course
On most first, second and fourth Wednesdays of the month (not August) you leave the practice and come to Poole General Hospital Postgraduate Centre for the Day Release Course. The timetable will be sent to you soon after you start and can also be found here. More detail about the content and purpose of the Day Release Course.
Cases for the Day Release Course
The morning session of the Day Release Course is largely taken up by groupwork. Its success is dependent on you bringing ideas and material to the course. Try to jot down ideas during the week such as: interesting cases and other aspects of general practice which have presented problems or given you pause for thought; experiences which have affected you emotionally or which will change the way you practice.
Travel Expenses
In order to claim travel expenses you need to keep an accurate log of your practice related travel. A brief summary and links to the forms can be found on page 36 of the GPR directions Schedules 1 and 2.
For most Registrars the Standard User Allowance will apply (see pages 4 and 5). At present, travel to and from the Day Release Course cannot be claimed, but keep a record in case this changes.
A form to help you keep a record is included.
