Your Training Programme

All courses are published on the NIMDTA Course Booking System and trainees have been pre-booked onto the appropriate courses by the GP Specialty Training team.  Please log into the Course Booking system using the log in details supplied at the start of the year to view the Locality and Regional Days you are required to attend (if you do not have log in credentials, please contact the GP Specialty Training team).The Course Booking System will send you an e-mail reminder 7 days before each course.

Yes attendance at training events is recorded and monitored by NIMDTA as part of your successful completion of the training programme. Trainees are also able to print Certificates of Attendance for each Locality/Regional day they attend.

If you are unable to attend a Locality/Regional day you are required to complete a Non attendance form.  This can be completed electronically and e-mailed to the GP Specialty Training team or post to GP Specialty Training.

If you are out of sync with the programme you should meet with your Programme Director to discuss your educational needs. Following this meeting your PD should notify us which courses you should attend.

Time out of Training

Trainees can use Keeping in Touch Days (KIT days) when they are on maternity leave. KIT days must be applied for in advance by completing the Application for KIT days and submitting to gpspecialtytraining.nimdta@hscni.net for authorisation by a GP Director. No more than 10 KIT days can be claimed for in one year, trainees can use KIT days on a voluntary basis.

• Ensure you have the appropriate Medical Protection
• Apply for inclusion on the Performers List
• Purchase your own stethoscope, auroscope & ophthalmoscope
• Ensure your motor car insurance is valid for home visits and carrying drugs

• The Practice acts as your employer whilst in a GP post. You should report all sick / maternity leave to them and to NIMDTA. Please email gpspecialtytraining.nimdta@hscni.net to advise us of any leave taken above annual leave.
• You can download blank copies of the Contract and Handbook from the policies section at the bottom of the screen.  However NIMDTA Human Resources will populate a contract with your salary scale and holiday entitlement and post this to your practice within 6 weeks of the start of your post.

• Induction should last three days in ST2 & ST3
• The working week is ten sessions
• Expect to consult with around 70 patients per week in ST2 & 80 patients per week in ST3
• 20 minute appointment slots, reducing to 10 minutes later by mutual agreement during ST3

• Management Module 1 for ST2 & ST3 trainees should be started in ST2 General Practice post and continued throughout ST3. Management Module 2 is a Regional day in ST3.
• Management Module
• Patient Consent Form

• Managing Controlled Drugs - Guidance for GP Trainers and Trainees
• Managing Controlled Drugs - Summary Guidance for Primary Care Prescribers
• Controlled Drugs - Frequently Asked Questions for GPs
• Guidance on Managing Controlled Drugs in Primary Care

ST2 trainees starting a General Practice post in August of a year should return for 3 sessions after their GP post. These dates should be organised by the trainee before leaving the practice.
Suggestions for each session;

1. Complete audit
2. Review surgery session
3. Review of red flag referrals made while in post

ST2 trainees starting a General Practice post in February of a year should arrange up to four sessions (2 full days or 4 half days) with the practice prior to their start date. Feedback from trainers and trainees last year suggested that this improved the induction process.

Suggestions for each session;

1. Active observation of the trainer consulting
2. Active observation of another GP consulting
3. Active observation of the Practice Nurse – Spiro/Smoking cessation/Resp reviews
4. Practice manager or present trainee to demonstrate the computer & practice policies – see inventory in Induction Guide to General Practice Posts. This is best undertaken just a couple of weeks before starting as these skills atrophy quickly

Induction (that period of learning before seeing booked patients) should last 3 days for St2s, those commencing GP in February of a year may find they have already covered a reasonable amount of the Induction material.

Yes you can attend CPD courses. The courses are not part of the Specialty Training Programme and are aimed at qualified GPs but you can attend if you wish.

Courses must be completed in your own time or as annual leave from training and cannot be counted as study leave. The GP Programme already covers almost all of your study leave entitlement. Please see the study leave policy for more information.

The cost of the course applies to Trainees and qualified GPs alike and cannot be re-imbursed from the Specialty Training Programme