Career/Learning Options for VTS Graduates
Armed Forces GP
Army: 01276-412730
RAF: 01400-261201
Royal Navy: 02392-727818
Career Start
1-2 year fixed contract salaried posts in some areas; see advertisements in BMJ Careers and other weekly GP magazines
Careers Advice
BMA (Members only) 020-7387-4499
Medical Forum 0705-007-7171, or www.medicalforum.com
“A guide to GP careers”, RCGP, tel 020-7823-9698 (£13.50 members, £15 non-members)
Childcare
From April 2003, local childcare coordinators will be available to primary care staff; call Daycare Trust at 020-7840-3350 for local details.
Flexible Careers Scheme
4-year salaried scheme, offering a maximum 260 sessions, worked as 2-5 sessions per week.
Details available at: www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/whatsnew.htm
GP Academic
See “A guide to GP careers”, RCGP, tel 020-7823-9698 (£13.50 members, £15 non-members)
GP Retainer scheme
Download “Improving working lives for doctors” from www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/iwl
GP Returners Scheme
Call the returners hotline on 0845-6060345 to arrange a meeting with the local return co-ordinator
GP Specialist
See www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/gp-specialinterests for PCT guidance on setting up local schemes
GP Trainer
Contact the regional postgraduate dean
Higher Professional Education (HPE)
Aiming to bridge the gap between VTS and getting established as a GP. 20 days (or 40 half days) of funded learning. Contact Jo Hennessy at the Academic Centre, Frenchay (details elsewhere on this website).
Locum Work
Advice from the National Association of Non Principals is available at www.nanp.org.uk, or-if a member-from the local NANP group.
Medical Management
Contact the association of medical managers at 0161-474-1141, or visit www.bamm.co.uk
Medical Politics
Contact the LMC, or visit the NHS Alliance website at www.nhsalliance.org; or the National Association of Primary Care at www.primarycare.co.uk
Medico legal adviser
Contact the MDU at www.the-mdu.com, or the Medical protection Society at www.medicalprotection.org, ot he Medical & Dental Defence Union of Scotland at www.mddus.com
Refresher courses
Clinical placements, shadowing, IT and management training, or repetition of the GP Registrar practice year (full-time or part-time); call the returners’ hotline on 0845-6060345
Sabbaticals
10-52 weeks prolonged (approved) study leave likely to remain available under the new contract. Currently, weekly study allowance is £125.45; weekly locum allowance up to £890.
Salaried posts
GP assistant (GMS practices), salaried GP (PMS practices); see above for Career Start, GP retainer and Flexible Career Schemes, as well as recruitment advertising in BMJ Careers, Medeconomics and GP.
Voluntary or overseas work
Médecins sans Frontières: www.uk.msf.org
Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO): www.vso.org.uk
British Association of immediate care: www.basics.org.uk
For ships doctor posts, contact cruise lines.
Bibliography
“Careers”, Medeconomics, March 2003