General Practice ST1, August 2017 Round 1, National Recruitment Timetable

I know that it probably feels like you have only just started FY2 but the start of Round 1 recruitment for the August 2017 start for GP Specialty Training is fast approaching.  As you can see from the timeline below applications open on the 9th November and close 1st December.  So why not make that all important decision and choose a career in general practice and even more importantly in the North of Scotland, first for lifestyle and first for training!
Advert	BMJ, NHS Jobs, Oriel
Advert Appears	03-Nov-16
Apply from	9 November 2016 {10:00am UK Time}
Closing Date	1 December 2016 {4:00pm UK Time}
Invitations to Specialty Recruitment Assessment Expected by	No later than 20 December 2016
Specialty Recruitment Assessment	7-14 January 2017
Specialty Recruitment Assessment Results Expected by	No later than 27 January 2017
Invitations to Selection Centre (Interview) Expected by	No later than 27 January 2017
Selection Centre Window	6-17 February 2017
First offers from (n.b. by 5:00pm)	28-Feb-17
Hold Deadline	9 March 2017 {1:00pm UK time}
Upgrade Deadline	16 March 2017 {5:00pm UK time}

Think GP

The RCGP has produced a series of short videos to  promote careers in general practice.  They give a flavour of the variety that a career in general practice can provide.

• Think GP Guide
• Other Think GP Stories

Orkney, Shetland & Western Isles Are Best Places To Raise Children

In the recent 2016 Royal Bank Of Scotland Children's Quality of Life Survey, Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles have been voted as the best places in the UK to bring up children.

So what makes the northern tip of Scotland Islands such a good place to bring up children?

• The average primary school class size (17.0) and pupil to teacher ratio (PTR) in secondary schools (10.0) in the Western Islands are the lowest in Britain (national averages of 26.9 and 20.9 respectively). The Orkneys follow with primary class sizes of 18.1 and a PTR of 9.3.
• An average school spend in the Orkneys of £9,281 per pupil is the highest in the survey – just over twice the national average of £4,623. The spending ratio in the Western Islands and Shetlands follow at £9,095 and £8,844 per pupil respectively.
• These factors appear to help secondary school children achieve excellent exam results, with over 90% of pupils in the Islands getting 5 awards at SCQF 4 or better (69.7% GB average1)
• The Western Islands have the lowest population densities in Britain with just 9 people per square kilometre – compared to the national average of 276. The Shetlands and Orkneys also have equally low population densities with 16 and 22 people/square km respectively.
• Children can walk about in relative freedom with an average of 71 vehicles per square kilometre in the Western Islands, 142 in the Orkneys and 145 in the Shetlands, compared to 9,587 in Britain as a whole.
• Importantly, the ONS survey on personal wellbeing indicates the Orkney and Western Island adult populations are among the happiest, most satisfied, least anxious and content in Britain. This bodes well for those growing up on the isles.

So why not give a thought to applying to our Scottish Rural Track GP Training Program?  We have rotations based in all three areas with the hospital component being based in the local Rural General hospitals whilst the GP components are based in the local GP practices.  

North of Scotland Ranked as Top in UK for Experience in Secondary Care Posts

In the recent GMC Trainee Survey the North of Scotland GP Specialty Trainees ranked their experience of their secondary care posts the highest of all the UK deaneries.

Scotland/region	UK Mean	Score	UK Ranking	n
North Region	77.89	81.13	1st of 20	85
East Region	77.89	79.68	6th of 20	37
South-East Region	77.89	79.57	7th of 20	111
NHS Education for Scotland	77.89	78.01	11th of 20	498
West Region	77.89	76.12	19th of 20	265

So why not come and train in the UKs top ranking schemes, first for training and first for lifestyle!  It's not us saying that, it is our trainees.