The Northern Foundation School supports experience in General Practice within the second year of the Foundation Programme (F2), consistently achieving the Department of Health target of 55% of Foundation Programme rotations including a GP F2 placement from August 2006.  The School has achieved this through working in partnership with Acute Local Education Providers and GP Practices to establish and maintain a network of training practices throughout the region. For further information about GP placements in the Foundation Programme and the related Educational Governance, please contact: Dr Esther Sheard, Foundation Programme Director for GP in F2 or Dr Shuja Hafeez, Foundation Programme Director for GP in F2.

GP Tasters

GP Tasters are available for current F2 doctors. For further information please read the guidance on the application form and apply via the Foundation School.  

What To Expect from a GP Taster

Taster sessions are up to 5 days in length and are designed to give an F2 doctor the chance to see what a career in General Practice might be like. Learners will have the opportunity to shadow GPs and gain valuable “hands on” experience. GP Tasters will be tailored to each F2s needs and will typically include:

· At least 7 clinical sessions during which you will see patients. Your GP Clinical Supervisor will have sufficient time blocked out to provide full supervision for all patients seen.

· Going on visits

· A personal tutorial to discuss issues raised with a focus on communication skills as relevant to primary care.

· A chance to meet the primary care team and ask questions.

An overview of how GP Tasters are managed:

· The Foundation doctor in training wishing to undertake GP Taster completes this form electronically. · Application is emailed to the Foundation School (nicola.whitelock4@nhs.net )

· Receipt of the form will be acknowledged by NFS.

· NFS has a list of GP Training Practices across the region who have expressed an interest in hosting F2 Taster.

· NFS will contact a suitable GP Practice based on applicant geographical preference being mindful not to overwhelm one particular GP practice with requests

· GP Practice will confirm if requested Taster dates can be accommodated.

· Once a suitable GP Practice for the identified dates has been secured, NFS will confirm this with the F2 doctor and share details of the practice. NFS will also share the F2 doctor contact details (as supplied on the application form) with the GP Practice.

· F2 doctor must then contact the GP Practice and finalise arrangements directly.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ARRANGE YOUR OWN GP TASTER WITH A PRACTICE DIRECTLY.

GP Practices interested in hosting an F2 placement

Training F2 doctors is a rewarding experience, an impetus to your own learning and development. Close supervision is required to support all learners, especially at the start of their rotation, but training is a net contribution to what the practice can offer patients and there is a grant available. If you are a GP Practice within the Foundation School area who is interested in taking part in F2 learning, please contact  Dr Esther Sheard.   Alternatively you can complete the Expression of Interest form on the following link and someone from the team will be in touch with further information:  Expression of Interest