The practice is an accredited training practice. This means that the practice and doctors have had to achieve a number of standards which have been assessed by the Northumbria Vocational Training Scheme, acting on behalf of the national organisation the Joint Committee for Postgraduate Training in General Practice.
Doctors training to become GPs are called GP Registrars. They are under the supervision of the doctors in the practice who are GP Trainers. GP Registrar is a fully qualified doctor gaining experience in primary care.
Sometimes other doctors are also trained and supported in the practice.
If you are seeing the doctor you can expect to receive the quality of service you would from your own GP. If you have any concerns please mention this to a member of staff.
Video recording
In order for the GP registrars to successfully complete their training they need to be assessed on their consulting skills. This is done by the appointed assessors viewing a video of the registrar’s consultations. You may be asked for your permission to have your consultation recorded in this way. If you agree, you will need to give your written permission and there is a consent form available at the reception desk, which you will be offered.
The recording will be used for educational purposes only. Further information about this process and the confidentiality of it, can be obtained from the reception staff.
If the doctor appears to be recording your consultation and you have not signed a consent form, then you should indicate this to him or her immediately.
Confidentiality
To ensure that the practice continues to meet the standards for training in the Northern Deanery, it, and the doctors will be subject to regular inspection visits (normally every 3 years). At this inspection another doctor will assess the quality of the patient records.
Patient records may only be disclosed with written permission and patients will therefore be asked to sign a letter of authorisation to permit this. No records will be included in the inspection visit without the patient’s prior written approval.
Please ask any member of the reception staff for further information if you require.