A Novel Approach To Study Leave

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A Novel Approach To Study Leave

• Alan Doddridge
• GP Trainee

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Introduction

• About study leave
• What can study leave be used for?
• Planning study leave logistics
• How I used my study leave
• Summary
• Useful resources and further information

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About Study Leave

• Who?
• All GP VTS trainees
• What?
• Anything you feel is essential to fulfil your
  educational needs
• Where?
• Be flexible
• When?
• Whenever you like, rota-permitting
• Why?
• Depends on your motivation
• How?
• Key is to plan early

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What Can Study Leave Be Used For? (1)

• Courses
• Child Health Surveillance
• Family Planning/Sexual Health
• Minor Surgery
• Psychiatry
• Palliative Care
• Summative Assessment preparation
• MRCGP revision

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What Can Study Leave Be Used For? (2)

• Practice Orientated
• To spend time in a practice
• Audit and research
• Practice visits
• Community clinics
• Locally organised events
• Other
• Personal study
• Exam leave

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Key Message

• General Practice. . . where do YOU want to go
  today?
• If you have a specific aim or a particular
  interest that you want to pursue
• find out how these can be achieved
• plan early

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Planning Study Leave Logistics (1)

• Common problems
• Hospital rota not flexible enough
• Courses are booked up
• Consultant will not authorise leave for something
  irrelevant to speciality
• Whos paying?

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Planning Study Leave Logistics (2)

• Possible solutions
• Be flexible
• Negotiate and reason
• Plan in advance
• Speak to someone if you feel hard done by
• Set your own personal learning objectives early
• Claim, claim, claim!

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My Story

• Whiston VTS rotation
• Paediatrics
• GP Registrar (1)
• Accident Emergency
• Medicine/Care of the Elderly
• Obstetrics Gynaecology
• GP Registrar (2)

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How I Used My Study Leave (1)

• Paediatrics
• Motivation . . . personal interest
• Found out requirements for inclusion on CHS list
• Attended CHS course at AHCH
• Arranged relevant Community Paediatric
  attachments via Educational Supervisor and
  Consultant Community Paediatrician
• What could I have done?
• DCH
• CHS course in GP Registrar year
• CHS clinics in GP Practice

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How I Used My Study Leave (2)

• GP Registrar (1)
• Relevant CHS GP clinics
• Sent off proof of experience to HA for approval
  for inclusion on CHS list
• Attended SA course
• Started work on Summative Assessment
• Did SA MCQs
• Agreed timetable to complete and write up audit
  with trainer
• Started work on video
• Dermatology Study Day

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How I Used My Study Leave (3)

• Accident Emergency
• Worked
• Ate
• Slept
• Attended Forensic Medicine Study Day
• Started to think about taking MRCGP
• Achieved Life Support requirement to enter MRCGP

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How I Used My Study Leave (4)

• Medicine/Care of the Elderly
• Started to prepare for MRCGP exam
• Attended MRCGP revision course
• Passed written papers 1 2
• Obstetrics Gynaecology
• Study leave nightmare!
• Family Planning course December 2004
• Applied for MRCGP oral exam

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How I Used My Study Leave (5)

• GP Registrar (2)
• Prepare MRCGP/SA video
• Trainer Report
• Submit everything
• HAVE A LONG HOLIDAY!

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In Summary . . .

• What have I learnt?
• Planning is everything
• Set your own learning objectives
• Develop a personal professional development
  plan
• Use all the resources you can
• Have lots of holidays!
• Enjoy yourself!

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Useful Resources Further Information

• The National Office for Summative Assessment
  www.nosa.org.uk
• The Royal College of General Practitioners
  www.rcgp.org.uk
• Postgraduate Office www.postgradgpliv.co
  m
• JCPTGP www.jcptgp.org.uk
• GP Recruitment www.gprecruitment.co.uk
• For MRCGP revision courses
  www.pastest.co.uk
• For Child Health Surveillance information
  www.rcpch.ac.uk
• For Family Planning Information
  www.rcog.org.uk