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.
Doctors in Trainining
| |
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 confidentilaity 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.