1. GP Fellowships in the East Midlands
Dr Caroline Ahrens
Associate Postgraduate Dean
HEE across East Midlands

2. Why do we need a GP Fellowship Programme?

3. Fill rates for GPR places this year were 35% down after the second round of recruiting.
Not enough recruits

4. New GPs heading for sunny climes
The Guardian 22/9/15 said, “The General Medical Council received 1,644 requests for certificates of current professional status (CCPS) – required to work abroad – in just three days last week. Usually, the regulator receives a day.”

5. Or the bright lights of London

6. Lack of appreciation of the profession

7. Lack of choice of placements
This was a strategy to ensure we weren’t left relying on the army to provide doctors to outer Lincolnshire, but has been blamed for low recruitment, so we are trying something new this year, with candidates able to rank their programme prefence and not just their region. We’ll see.

8. We need to hang on to our young talent

9. Funded from the underspend in GP training

10. Weekly breakdown of time
Fellowship
2 Days Project
2 Days Salaried GP
1 Day Certificate/Diploma
We want this to be flexible and workable. This is the working week most Fellows are doing. Some have chosen to work 4 days in practice and do a project on the same day as their qualification. HEEM fund only one day and the qualification fees. The placement grant is the same. Most Fellowships are for 1 year, but if it makes sense for a project to run over 2 years this is usually possible, but will have employment rights implications for the practice.

11. Salaried GP Help the practice with recruitment
Practice pays the salary at market rates (seek LMC advice)
BMA contract or negotiated variation
£3700 placement grant a year (HEEM funded)
No contribution to Defence Agency fees

12. Salaried GP
Which days are worked where are a matter for the Fellow to negotiate with the 3 parties
Practices are invited to send in a one page pro-forma to advertise their practice
These are put into a directory for the Fellow to choose from and contact the practice directly

13. Salaried GP
The practice and the Fellow choose each other, they are not allocated by HEEM
Practices must be an accredited for training /teaching/retainers or inspected by the LMC to ensure they are a supportive learning environment
Registrars may not stay in their training practice from next year

14. Project placement

15. Project placement Research Teaching and Education Palliative care
CCG work
Prisons
CEPNs
Nursing home agenda
Emergency and pre hospital care

16. Project placement
Projects invited to also send in a one page pro-forma to advertise their post
These are put in a directory for Fellows to choose from
Need a supervisor and a clear plan
Paid at £5600 per session per year by HEEM

17. Project placement
Some clinical placements are offering top up payments as an incentive
Placements can be completely independent of the practice but should link to the qualification

18. Qualification Any appropriate certificate or diploma
Should enhance the project
Must be accredited
HEEM pay £3000 towards fees
HEEM pay 2 sessions a week for a year at £5600 per session protected study time

19. Current Fellows
22 Fellows

20. What next?