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}

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.  

Orkney and Shetland 'best two places to raise children in Britain'

The North of Scotland regularly tops the quality of life surveys for both Scotland and the UK.  In this latest survey looking at "Best Places to Raise Children", published by Bank of Scotland, areas covered by the North of Scotland GP Training Schemes fill the top 5 places with Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles filling the top three places in that order.  The islands were closely followed by Aberdeenshire and Highland in fourth and fifth places with Argyll and Bute also in the top 10 in eighth place.

Read more in these articles from the BBC and The Times.

• Orkney and Shetland 'best two places to raise children in Britain'
• Orkney comes top of the class as the finest location to bring up a family

Working On Orkney

I can't say why I chose to take a job working in Orkney for 6 months, I have to admit, I had no idea where Orkney even was (and had a big shock when I searched for it on Google maps after applying). I saw it advertised, thought it looked interesting and a bit different and without too much thought applied for it. I never regretted what I guess was a bit of an impulsive decision..

The Challenge of Combining General Practice with Hospital Medicine

Interested in General Practice but like the challenge of some aspects of hospital medicine?
Unsure about whether to apply for a training program in GP or a Specialty?

Have you considered a post in Rural GP Training?

Life as a GP on Orkney

As an Orcadian I may be slightly biased in my opinion that Orkney is one of the best places in the world to live.

I moved home in 2004 mid way through my GP training. My reasons for coming home were that I wanted to become a GP, I wanted to be involved in my local community and I wanted to have children who would grow up in the same wonderful environment that I was lucky enough to experience.

Orkney Remote and Rural Fellowship

Once you have finished your GP Specialty Training in the North of Scotland there are a number of post CCT options open to you.  In Grampian we have the career start scheme which offers you the opportunity to spend part of your time in a GP practice and the other part of your time working in a hospital specialty to develop an area of special interest. 

NHS Education Scotland also funds a number of Fellowships including  Medical Education, Remote and Rural and Health Inequality Fellowships.  Dr Holly Tyson is currently a Remote and Rural Fellow based on Orkney.  In the video above she describes some of her experiences during her time on Orkney.

To give you an idea of numbers, the Grampian Career Start scheme normally has around 10 posts although this may vary depending on the number of those wanting less than full time working.  There are 8 standard Rural Fellowships and 4 Acute Care Rural Fellowships.  Of these 4 remain available; 3 standard - 2 in Orkney, one in Caithness and one acute in Stranraer. Closing date is 16th June. Contact for queries is Gill Clarke (gillian.clarke@nes.scot.nhs.uk)

Changes At The Balfour Hospital, Orkney

Due to Orkney’s geography, General Practice has always been pretty self-sufficient; used to taking on extended roles within Primary Care, dealing with emergency presentations on the single-handed  outer isles and taking on a broad spectrum of roles within the Balfour Hospital.  We also have a strong tradition of GP training both within Primary Care and the hospital.

Working on Orkney, Sharmina Begum

I am currently doing a GPST rotation at Balfour Hospital, Orkney. When I was first advised that my 2nd GPST rotation would be in Orkney, I was devastated. The main reason for this was that I had to leave my family in Aberdeen. I have two young children and it is difficult to move with whole family only for six months. I really considered leaving the GP training because I could not bear the thought of living apart from my family for six months. However, now I am in the 3rd month of my rotation and I am glad that I am here!!!

Orkney Network of Care

So how do you provide a modern primary and secondary care service to a population of 20,000 when it is spread over 17 islands?  Here is the NHS Orkney solution!

Orkney is an archipelago composed of a large central island (the Orkney mainland) and approximately 70 surrounding smaller islands, 17 of which are inhabited. The total population of Orkney is around 20,000 of which 3,300 live on islands without land access to Kirkwall. The Balfour Hospital is situated in Kirkwall, which is the main centre of population. Providing efficient and effective medical services to these island communities is a challenge faced by NHS Orkney.

In 2010 NHS Orkney had the opportunity to re-design the way primary care services are provided to the outer isles. The Isles Network of Care is the result of this work and has been created to achieve the following criteria:

• Be clinically safe with a strong clinical governance structure that avoids clinicians working in isolation.
• Provide continuity of care to the individual island communities.
• Be a model that can be recruited to and sustained.
• Provide the communities with the opportunity for input into the way their services are delivered.
• Provide efficient and effective use of clinical time.
• Be affordable within the budget of Orkney Health and Care.

The network of care includes General Practitioners on the isles of Westray, Stronsay, Sanday Rousay and Hoy and Nurse Practitioners on Papay Westray, Eday, North Ronaldsay and Flotta.

Individual practitioners are appointed to island practices to be the principle providers of care to each community. When on leave they are backfilled by another practitioner, including Rural Fellows, employed by NHS Orkney. In order to provide continuity of care the aspiration is that the same individual will provide cover to the same island for most of the time.

Life on Orkney

Many trainees are a little wary of the prospect of spending time in some of our Rural General Hospitals, this wariness is usually dispelled within days of starting the posts and the feedback we receive from our trainees is universally positive with many talking about outstanding clinical and social experiences.  Lisa Hayward was no exception, read about her account of working in Orkney.

Working on Orkney

We are currently in the process of finalising what rotations we will be offering in Round 2. One thing that is certain that we will be offering 4 rural track rotations, 1 in Shetland, 1 in the Western Isles and 2 in Orkney.

David Lovell is a trainee on the Grampian four year program. He spent 6 months on Orkney during the first year of his 4 year program. Here is his take on what it is like to be a part of the community on Orkney.

"Working as a GP trainee in Orkney was one of the most fun and interesting periods of my life. Some of my favourite experiences are from that time and I would recommend working there to anyone.

Rural Track Program

Lewis and Harris has been named as the best island in Europe by the international travel site Tripadvisor.
It also beat rivals in Thailand, Chile and Madagascar to be included in the top five islands in the world.

Scotland featured several times on the list with Orkney and Isle of Mull also named in the European top 10.

Read more on the BBC Website:- Lewis and Harris named as Europe's top island by TripAdvisor

So why not consider our Rural Track Programs, we have rotations based both in Stornoway on Lewis and also in Kirkwall on Orkney.  To get a feel for what its like to be on our Rural Track program why not read Kate Dixon's blog, Kate is now in her second year on the Western Isles rotation.

For The Skiers!

Interested in GP Training?  Enjoy your skiing?  There is only one place to be, The North of Scotland! Conditions this year are positively alpine, especially on the West Coast.  Glencoe and Nevis Range are just up the road for our trainees on the Rural Track Program in Oban and Fort William.

Conditions on the east side of Scotland at Glenshee, The Lecht and Cairngorm are almost as good with excellent cover on the upper runs for our trainees in Grampian and Caledonian programs to enjoy!

So if skiing is your thing, there really is only one place to apply for, as evidenced by these photos from Glencoe this week!!

More snow at Scots resorts than 2010 Winter Olympics site

Why Our Rural Track Trainees Have The Best Deal!

Mike McIver, an ST1 currently in Grantown, and previously in Oban has been at the video again!  Mike was at the Rural Program conference in Stornoway and persuaded a few of his colleagues to speak about what has attracted them to the Rural Program.

So make the best decision of your life and join our Rural Program!  You can read more about the conference on Mike's blog at http://scotlandgptrainingcaledonia.blogspot.co.uk/ .

North Of Scotland Expertise Goes East!

Word of our innovative Rural Track Program is spreading fast! We are currently playing host to a group of Japanese doctors and health administrators who are visiting us to see what lessons can be learned from the way the North of Scotland tackles the delivery of healthcare to remote and rural communities.

Our visitors are from the Japanese Association for Development of Community Medicine (JADECOM) and are visiting the Centre for Health Science in Inverness, Belford Hospital and the Fort William Health Centre.

Living and Working in the Highlands of Scotland

Interested in our Caledonian or Rural Track programs but not that familiar with the Highlands then watch this video created by Talent Scotland and see what fantastic working and lifestyle opportunities are available.

Orkney Culture

Interested in coming to Orkney on our Rural Track and Grampian 4 Year Programs?  Enjoy your music and culture?  Fionn McArthur, one of Radio Orkney's presenters, has kindly written this article on some of the cultural opportunities on Orkney.

 ‘Orkney’s culture…. is perhaps most important….. in opening up imaginations, building shared memories, raising aspirations, giving hope and delight –simply making Orkney a place where people want to live.’

The above quote comes from cultural commentator Francois Matarasso. He was commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise in 2011 to come up with a report looking at why Orkney’s cultural life is so vibrant, and what lessons other parts of the country might want to learn.

It came as no surprise to any Orcadian – either native or ‘adopted’ – that the islands were chosen to be the basis for such a study. Arts and culture are an integral part of life here, ranging from informal music-making in homes and village halls, to performances by some of the world’s finest classical musicians. The islands are a haven for artists, with the Pier Arts Centre playing host to some of the most gifted contemporary practitioners. Community drama is a mainstay of the winter months here, with highly polished productions from across the islands competing in an annual festival each February. The craft sector is a major local employer, with jewellery designers drawing inspiration from Orkney’s artists of the past who - thousands of years ago - left their mark in our native stone.

A Trainee's View of Orkney

Orkney also offers fantastic lifestyle opportunities.  Innez Moss is on the Rural GP Fellowship program in Orkney.  Here is what she has to say about her time in Orkney:- 

"I returned to Orkney last August after studying medicine at Dundee University and completing my GP training in Elgin and Inverness.  The new rural track training programme looks very exciting with lots of extra time and opportunities to enhance the skills required to be a rural GP.  I enjoyed my training in Elgin and Inverness and had chosen not to train in Orkney as I grew up here however several other local doctors who have trained here have had described the experience very positively.

I have focused on improving my skills to cover the single-handed island practises and completed three BASICS courses.  In addition I am completing the Introduction to Hyperbaric Medicine and Level 1 and 2a Diving medicine courses so I can participate in the running of the local diving Chamber which treats divers who become unwell while diving in the Scapa Flow. 

Orkney has much to offer outside work with beautiful scenery, outdoor activities and much culturally.  The extra time spent through the rural track training will allow you much more scope to participate in the local community which is something I believe is very important as a Rural GP.  Personally I have several musical interests including singing in a choir and playing the fiddle but that is just a small part of the local musical scene, where you can enjoy a wide mix of bands in the local pubs or attend concerts of internationally acclaimed musicians at festivals such as the Folk festival and the St Magnus festival which has a more classical programme.  There are good sporting facilities available and various football, hockey and rugby leagues to join.  I enjoy taking my dog around the various beaches and hills and I hope to windsurf and learn to sail this summer.  For those who are more artistic there are many local artists with studios and some workshops to help inspire you and keep you entertained during the darker winter months.

I am happy to respond to any enquiries about working in Orkney and my email is inezmoss@nhs.net "

Orkney features both in our Rural Track Program, which has 2 posts based in Orkney, and also in our 4 year Grampian Programs, which include a 6 month posting in Orkney in the first year. As with all our rural general hospitals these posts get excellent feedback from our trainees, especially for the hands on experience and great support.

Visit Orkney Website
Orkneyjar:- Orkney Heritage Website
www.orkney.com

Focus on Orkney

In March Orkney was voted the UK’s Number 1 Island Destination by Trip Advisor. So, what does Orkney have to offer? Orkney is an archipelago of 70 islands with stunning scenery and wildlife. At the northern tip North Ronaldsay boasts an internationally renowned bird observatory, but also sheep that are walled out of the island and live on seaweed. The islands are steeped in history ranging from World Heritage Neolithic standing stones and dwellings, via the Viking legends of the Orkneyinga Saga and the stunning St Magnus Cathedral through to World War I and the scuttling of the German Fleet in Scapa Flow (now popular with sports divers) and the role played by the islands in the Second World War as a naval base. There is a strong arts tradition, including the Pier Arts Centre in Stromness and a thriving jewellery industry. Various music and science festivals are scattered through the year, but most of all tourists comment on the warmth of the welcome. For a fuller picture of what is on offer visit: www.visitorkney.com