Park Leys Medical Practice

Over 15 years ago the practice took the decision to become involved in the training of new GPs. GP Trainees are fully qualified doctors who wish to become GPs.

In order to become an accredited training practice it is necessary to meet very high clinical and managerial standards and the practice is justifiably proud of its continuing accreditation.

It is crucial that doctors aspiring to be GPs gain experience of the work under the supervision and tutelage of experienced and accredited trainers. The practice is lucky to have two enthusiastic and committed trainers, Dr Ruth Girvan and Dr Jerry Horn, who are wholeheartedly supported by the other partners, GPs and staff.

Equally vital is the support and goodwill of the patients who cooperate with the training programs and allow consultations to be recorded on video for training and assessment purposes.

We would like to thank everyone who takes part in the training of new GPs. Without your support we would not be able to participate in the valuable role of training doctors who wish to become GPs.

From August 2009 we will have 4 trainees working in the practice, staying for four to twelve months, depending on the stage of their Training.and many of our patients will have had consultations with them.

Dr Karnati, who has been with us since December 2008 will be finishing her training in December 2009 and Dr Harper, who was with us for a few months in 2007, will return to complete her training by spending a year with us . Dr Bennett and Dr Skilbeck will be spending 6 and 4 months respectively at Park Leys before moving to other posts to continue their careers.

Dr Kothare, who trained at Park Leys in 2003 joined the practice in May 2005, and is now a partner. Dr Anu Pandian completed her training as registrar with us in February 2007 and Dr Anita Somerset (formerly Dr Joshi), who completed her training here in August 2008, both work in the practice three days per week, although Dr Somerset is currently on maternity leave and will return later in the year.

Other doctors, who have completed their training at Park Leys are now working at other practices, either as salaried doctors or as partners, providing a high level of healthcare to many patients across Coventry and further afield.

The process of assessing doctors learning to become GPs has undergone significant change over the last two years. Patients will probably have noticed little difference, but the requirement to video consultations has been reduced – to the relief of both trainers and trainees. However, at times, one of the GP Trainers (Drs Horn and Girvan) may observe Trainee consultations, with patients' permission.

Until 2007, most GP Trainees have taken two sets of exams, one to qualify as a GP (called Summative Assessment) and the other to become a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP). These examinations have now been combined an there will only be one set of exams for both qualification and membership.

We sometimes have medical students in the practice gaining some practical experience of General Practice under the close supervision of one of our GPs. When these students pass their final exams and become doctors they do two foundation years, working in various different departments, before applying for specialist training (eg surgery, general practice).For the last year we have had foundation year doctors (known as F2s) at Park-Leys supported and supervised by Dr Smithers.

We hope that most doctors in training will spend some time in general practice, so those who intend to work in hospitals will have some experience of what it is like to care for patients outside a hospital setting and we are happy to facilitate the training of doctors at other stages in their careers, who will not be planning a career in general practice. Over recent years several docotrs training to be Palliative Care Consultants have spent time with us. It is recognised that experience and skills obtained during a spell in General Practice will be useful in other areas of medicine and some the specialised knowledge they have is passed to our GPs.

Training is a two way process and we feel that teaching doctors in training enlivens the practice, helps us keep up to date and gives patients more choice.