Frequently Asked Questions
How are rotations allocated?
Once the hold and upgrade deadline has passed applicants will be contacted by the recruitment team inviting them to submit their rotation preferences via a Microsoft form.
Once the preference deadline has passed, the rotations are allocated based on the individual’s preference and their national rank. The recruitment team will confirm the rotation you have been allocated. Details will then be passed over to the patch and GP teams who will then make contact.
How does allocation to the Severn & Peninsula programme work?
If you accept an offer in the Severn or Peninsula Programme you will be randomly allocated to one of the Non-TERS patches within that programme (Severn – Bath, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset or Swindon. Peninsula – Cornwall, Exeter, Torbay). You will be contacted by the recruitment team who will inform you which patch you have been allocated to and invite you to preference the rotations for this patch.
The patch you are allocated to will be final, you will not be able to swap or change patch. We suggest you only accepted a Severn or Peninsula programme offer if you are willing to work in any of the patches within that region.
We need to treat all applicants equitably and fairly. We are not able diverge from the published allocation system.
I have been offered a post, is it possible to change my patch?
Unfortunately, we cannot change the patch you have been allocated to.
We cannot accommodate any requests to be placed in a specific patch and we do not allow swaps.
We need to treat all applicants equitably and fairly. We are not able diverge from the published allocation system.
Can I swap/change my rotation?
Unfortunately, no swaps are allowed. We need to treat all applicants equitably and fairly. All rotations are allocated based on rank and preference and we are unable diverge from the published allocation system.
How do I apply for LTFT? (less than full time)
Once the hold and upgrade deadline has passed you will be contacted by the recruitment team inviting you to submit your rotation preferences via a Microsoft form. This form will ask you to indicate if you are intending to apply for less than full time training. Once you have been allocated a rotation your details will be passed on to the School of Primary Care and the patch teams.
You will then be written to with more details of how to formally apply for LTFT training.
Is it possible to have previous experience counted towards my GP training?
You may be able to have some of your previous experience counted towards your GP Training under the Combined Training Scheme. There are two combined training pathways:
- Accreditation of Transferable Capabilities (ATC) for applicants who are transferring to general practice training from another GMC approved specialty training programme
- Certificate of Completion of Training: Combined Programme (CCT CP) for applicants who have relevant experience from outside a GMC approved specialty training programme. This might include substantive clinical roles or overseas training and experience.
For more information on combined training please see our combined training webpage.
How do I organise accommodation?
Once the preferencing window has closed and we have allocated rotations we will pass your details onto the School of Primary Care and the patch teams who will then be in touch with further information.
You will then be able to raise this query with them and they will be able to support you and offer guidance about hospital accommodation.
Please note, you do need to be proactive and try to organise your accommodation at the earliest opportunity as there is limited availability.
Do I need a driving licence?
During the general practice component of your training you will be working in the community. As well as seeing patients in the surgery you will also visit patients in their own homes, in community hospitals and in nursing homes. You are also likely to attend meetings and teaching sessions in places different from your own surgery. Similarly hospital rotations may involve work at different sites within the trust. It is essential that you are able to get to these places. If you do not have a driving licence, please ensure that you have appropriate alternative transport arrangements in place.
You will be expected to be able to attend emergencies and provide domiciliary care which may include out of hours visits if you are based in a GP training practice or in some secondary care posts at any time during your training programme. If you are not a car driver, you are expected to provide a car and driver at your own expense in order to meet this requirement. Relying on public transport, bicycles and taxis is not normally acceptable.
Please be reminded that when you submitted your application you agreed to the following -
I agree that I am able to provide emergency and domiciliary care at any time during my training programme. If, for any reason, my licence ceases to be valid or I no longer have access to a vehicle, I agree to provide a vehicle or vehicle and driver at my own expense so that I may continue to fulfill this requirement unless, if I am unable to drive for medical reasons, my employer is able to make other reasonable adjustments to the job or to this requirement.
Can I defer my start date?
From Round 2 Re-advert 2020, successful applicants appointed to England, Scotland or Wales recruitment can no longer apply to defer entry to GP training on non-statutory grounds.
Only statutory deferrals such as maternity/paternity and sick leave will be granted. If you are deferring due to ill health you will need to provide evidence to the recruitment team upon request.
Successful applicants to GP Training from August 2021 onwards who may not wish, for whatever reason, to take up the offer of a training place in the current recruitment round will be able to transfer their final recruitment score from one recruitment round to another recruitment round.
This option will only be valid within a 12-month recruitment cycle and depends on the recruitment and selection process being unchanged in subsequent recruitment rounds.
Subject to the above conditions, to transfer your previous, valid GP scores, you must answer yes to the question “Do you wish to carry over scores from a successful application you have previously submitted?” on your GP re-application form, at time of application. At the point of submission, your scores will be automatically transferred by Oriel from your earlier application into your present one.
It will not be possible to make late requests and any requests to transfer scores made outside of the application process will not be considered. Likewise, if you opt in to transfer your scores, this cannot be changed at a later date once the application has been submitted. The process at the point of application is final.
For more information please visit the GPNRO website.
I have a health condition, who should I talk to about this?
Please contact the recruitment team to make them aware of any health conditions that may affect your training.
Once the preferencing window has closed and rotations allocated your details will be passed over to the School of Primary Care and patch teams who will then make contact with you to discuss this further.
What does a community post involve?
Community posts are community-focused specialty posts where the majority of the working week is spent working with outpatients (i.e. patients who attend from, and return to home) or in a community setting separate from an acute trust. The working week may include a proportion of on call work.
What are Integrated Training Posts?
Integrated training posts are rotations with a split working week with time spent in General Practice and a specialty. You will have a clinical supervisor in each of the two elements of the job. In an ITP, each working week will be made up of two days in General Practice, two days in the specialty and one day of educational activity. The working week will mirror that of General Practice with limits on the amount of antisocial work as per the 2016 trainee GP contract.
My referee hasn’t received their reference request, how do I proceed?
Please contact the GPNRO (gpnro@hee.nhs.uk)as they manage the vacancy, so will be able to manage reference requests.
I have never worked in the NHS before, is there support available?
Yes! When you are sent the form to preference rotations there is a question which asks if you have NHS experience. We recommend if you have worked in the NHS for 6 months or less selecting no to this question. This enables the patch teams to identify those in need of extra support.
Is there a requirement for Advanced Life Support (ALS) to apply for GP training, as courses have been cancelled and delayed due to Covid-19?
NHS Employers have advised that whilst it remains the case that ALS courses have been cancelled or delayed due to the pandemic, doctors who would normally be required to have a valid ALS as a condition of starting in post, should be able to take up their jobs. However, organisations will need to assess the skills required and any certification held by individuals and ensure that sufficient training is provided where necessary, so that they can carry out their role safely.
Is there a limit on the number of times I can apply to GP Training and will reapplying effect future applications?
No. There is no limit to the number of times you may reapply for GP Training, however you can only make a single application for all available GP ST1 training posts in each round. If you withdraw your application or offer prior to starting your training programme, it will not affect future applications.
Where can I find information on pay as a doctor in the UK?
It is recommended that you visit the British Medical Association (BMA) website as it provides a resource of information on pay for doctors in the whole of the UK. Their guidance’s advises you on any issues you may have such as pay scales; expenses and pay protection, providing you with the detailed support you may need.
For information on pay, visit the BMA Pay and Contracts page.