Abstract
At the time of writing, we are approaching the end of term in our GP training cycle. In July it is particularly busy, in my practice, as we not only say farewell to our GP trainees, but also our medical students and other team members who have been training with us. Getting together as a practice for some food and a presentation has become a tradition that we all enjoy. I like to give my trainees a book and pick some GP literature that has come out in recent years, including ‘What is a Doctor’ by Phil Whitaker and ‘Tale of Two Houses’ by Martin Brunet.
GP training is tough, so at this time of year we reflect on things that have been difficult along with some successes. Time needs to be set aside to process those feelings. Tutorial rotas continue as normal so, we find ourselves before moving on in a golden period without the pressure of assessment deadlines. I often ask our trainees to share their most memorable patients from the last 6 months. Sometimes these cases stick in the mind because they were hard, and on more than one occasion trainees have looked back with a sense of sadness or self-reproach. As trainers we may have to think strategically about this period for the benefit of our trainees.
Thinking about the process of moving on might be a helpful start. Changing placements offers a fresh start and the chance to develop skills and knowledge in an environment with different challenges. I always remind my trainees of this and try to do so by asking them how they have learned what they learned in the last few months. For example, did they see something particular on a video consultation that changed their approach to other cases? When things don’t go well we have a tendency to focus on what we learnt rather than how. Thinking about the mode of learning rather than the detail of the case can be important in moving on to what comes next.
If our trainees have had a really challenging placement and perhaps scraped through the annual review of competency progression (ARCP) or there is an element of their training that needs work, the period after ARCP can be a time to double down on some hard work. This may apply to communication and consultation skills. For example, joint surgeries can be a good way of preparing for what can be a tricky transition between the ST2 and ST3 placements. There are a whole host of reasons why a meeting with our trainee’s next supervisor can be helpful and including the trainee or programme director in the meeting is more helpful still. In any case, resting on our laurels at this time of the training cycle can be problematic if there have been challenges.
The ‘end of term’ period can be an opportunity to get creative as trainers. Free from the responsibility to produce reflections or complete the latest assessment, trainer and trainee can set off in a different direction. This can be done at a low level by choosing subjects for tutorials outside the conventional curriculum. I find creative arts, psychological topics or practical procedures high on my priority list at this time of year. The final day of a placement can be an opportunity to plan practice team building or hold a bigger celebration event to bring everyone together. If your local training scheme does not mark the end of term with a special event, perhaps volunteering to organise this event might be a good way of connecting everyone around a positive message. Such opportunities are rare in an all too pressurised working environment but can help improve the prevailing work culture.
Whatever your circumstances at the end of term, opportunities for positivity and learning abound when approaching the end of term.
