Applying for a placement
For many years, the BMJ has featured a wide array of advertisements from individual practices and local vocational training schemes. Recruitment and selection procedures varied across Britain, and problems were associated with recruiting doctors to training practices. In future the advertising and recruitment system for general practitioner vocational training will be the responsibility of the directors of postgraduate general practice education.
Applicants will continue to have a choice of available training practices, but directors now facilitate the process to ensure that the recruitment is fair, open, and based on equal opportunities for all.
Advertisements for both vocational training schemes and the general practitioner training placements are the responsibility of the directors. The BMJ will carry advertisements for available placements for trainees
The coordination of activities by the directors should ensure that doctors do not have to face lots of interviews for different schemes before they secure a training placement.
The directors can also help doctors with particular personal or family circumstances that affect the duration and location of their training. Circumstances that will be considered include disability, caring for elderly or disabled family members, and being a single parent with children of school age.
The days of recruiting general practitioners through patronage are over. The new general practitioner registrar scheme is more responsive to modern working lives and reflects fairer working practices.
BMJ 2000;321:S2-7259 ( 19 August )
Career focus: Vocational training for general practice.
Steve Field, Director of postgraduate general practice education, West
Midlands Region
 | bmj.com Field 321 (7259) 2 |
