“As Doctors New to UK and NHS

Feedback from our GPR’s

“As an IMG I felt important and heard”

“Helped me to reflect on my own cultural awareness and attitudes to people”

“Having talked to trainees from other parts of the country, I realise what a good deal we have here”

“It’s great to be part of such a supportive group, especially when preparing for CSA”

North Cumbria GPTP – Approach to training of IMGs

Our approach is to raise awareness, in all trainers and trainees, of the potential difficulties faced by International Medical Graduates (IMGs), whilst at the same time valuing the rich diversity and cross cultural experiences of our IMGs. We aim to treat each GP trainee as an individual not a statistic. The small size of our programme enables us to get to know our trainees and identify their individual learning needs. Our GP Trainees get a good grounding in GP by starting their programme in a General Practice post, working alongside their Educational Supervisor. We have an early emphasis on Communication Skills teaching for all, working in small supportive mixed groups throughout the 3 year programme. GP trainees and trainers are actively involved in delivering and adapting the programme; this facilitates the development of leadership skills and adult learning habits in trainees and further develops the teaching skills of our trainers.

Key features:

• GP as the first post to give a good grounding in Consultation Skills and a GP focus to the rest of learning on the programme (Occasionally this is not possible in which case the 2nd post,ST1-2,will be GP)
• First GP Trainer is the GP Trainee's Educational Supervisor for 3 years so they know where the strengths and weaknesses lie
• Pre-start discussion to identify learning needs and plan individual rotation
• 2 day introductory course : group development work for new intake
• Consultation Skills teaching : full day in first term in small group with regular follow-up sessions throughout the 3 year programme
• Hot seat consultation skills with professional actors
• Statistics for the AKT – run by GP Trainees
• Clinical skills experience session “mock CSA” exam style session run by Trainers and TPDs for ST3s

Other linked sessions in our programme include:

• Culture and health beliefs
• Equality and discrimination
• Emotional intelligence
• Conversations in end of life care
• Consulting with teenagers
• Consultation techniques for managing medically unexplained symptoms
• Additional group-led Consultation Skills practice sessions