The training process for doctors in the UK can sometimes be confusing. Here at Library House Surgery we are a training practice, which means we provide placements and help and support to junior doctors as they train to be fully qualified GPs. It takes 10 years from starting Medical School to becoming a fully fledged GP.
During your encounters with the practice, you may come across people at different stages of their training. All trainess, no matter what level, all have strict supervision, routes to escalate matters and are fully briefed and inducted as part of the team.
Part of the training programme requires trainee GPs to film consultations with patients. The videos are used by doctors training to be a GP to review their consultations with their trainers. The video/digital recording is ONLY of you and the doctor talking together. Intimate examinations will not be recorded and the camera will be switched off on request. All video/digital recordings are carried out according to guidelines issued by the General Medical Council, and will be stored securely in line with the practice guidelines. They will be deleted within one year of the recording taking place. You do not have to agree to your consultation with the doctor being recorded. If you want the camera turned off, please tell Reception - this is not a problem, and will not affect your consultation in any way.
Doctors Training Requirements
| |
Years as Medical Student |
Foundation Training |
Specialism |
Total |
| GP |
5 |
2 |
3 |
10 |
| Hospital Speciality |
5 |
2 |
7 |
14 |
Medical Students
Occasionally we have medical students attached to our Practice for short periods of time, all medical students are currently undertaking studies at a local university and have passed strict vetting procedures and are bound by the same level of confidentiality as any other clinician. Often they will be simply observing what is happening in practice. If you have any concerns about this, please don't hesitate to mention this at either the time of booking your appointment or upon entering the consultation room. If you do not wish the student to be present please notify the Receptionist, who will inform the Doctor.
Foundation Doctors (FY1/FY2)
GP Foundation Doctors, are fully qualified and registered doctors, i.e. they have passed out of medical school and are completing their 2 years of pre-registration training before starting their speciality training. They handle the initial management of acute scenarios and contribute to the management of chronic cases, all of this is with supervision.
Speciality Training Doctors (ST1/ST2/ST3)
Sometimes referred to as a GP Registrar (ST3), these doctors are fully qualified and registered doctors on the GMC list, who have completed their 2 years of Foundation Training, and are completing a 3 year GP training course, this involves further hospital medical training and an attachment to a practice under a supervising qualified GP. All GPs must undergo this training before they can become fully qualified GPs in their own right.
Similar training periods occur in all the hospital specialities, where qualified doctors undergo further training in their chosen field, on the way to becoming either Consultants or Speciality Registrars. One of the partners within Library House will become their GP mentor, who they can refer to and take advice from should they need it.