North of Scotland, The Outdoor Capital of Great Britain

The North of Scotland really can boast of being the outdoor capital of the UK.  The opportunities are endless.  Whether it is hill walking, climbing, cycling, skiing, kayaking or sailing there is something here for you.  The scenery is breathtaking as can be seen in this short video of the Cairngorms and the North & West Highlands.  

Our Grampian scheme is within an hour drive of the southern and eastern Cairngorms whilst our Caledonian scheme based around Inverness is within easy reach of both the Cairngorms and the North West Highlands.  Our rural track scheme bases in Oban, Fort William, Stornoway, Wick Shetland and Orkney have all this on their doorstep.

So if it is the outdoors that you enjoy, there is nowhere better to go for your GP training!

View from the other end...

It was an ordinary appointment in an ordinary surgery in the North of Scotland.  I was seeing Janet (predictably, not her real name) and her mum and they set me thinking...They’re part of an extended family of just six who've seen me through my working lifetime since they cover five generations and a quarter century of my own Practice here.  It’s an amazing privilege to be involved in their lives and loves (not literally!), their aspirations and fears and ultimately one of their passing. If the involvement itself wasn't enough, there’s been a plethora of medical interest and curiosities intertwining with their complexity. Out of this six, I've been involved with a multitude of conditions. And that’s before considering how life events such as redundancy, emigration and planning disputes have affected their respective health. Finally, into the mix, I’d need to add their interests such as, photography, dancing and dubious football alliances.

This is the joy of continuity across families and generations and only General Practice can offer it. For me, it’s a genuine privilege and has sustained me through QOF and more NHS restructuring than anyone should have to endure in a working lifetime.  Patients value it, we value it and we should be spreading the word among our own- this is why General Practice is different, this is why it’s interesting- even after 30 years!

Alex Thain

One Week Till August 2016 GP Training Applications Open

Applications for August 2016 GP training open Wednesday November 11th and will remain open for 3 weeks and will close December 3rd.

We have 3 programs here in the North of Scotland.  The Grampian program is based around Aberdeen and offers a mixture of opportunities with both town practices in and around Aberdeen and more rural options across Aberdeenshire.  The Caledonian program is centered on Inverness and again has a mix of general practices both in the city of Inverness and more rural practices across Moray and Highland.

Our final program is the National Rural Track program that is based around our Rural General hospitals in Oban, Fort William, Stornoway, Wick, Orkney and Shetland.  This innovative four year program offers fantastic training opportunities within the hospital posts along with the rewarding and challenging experiences of rural general practice.

Not only do our programs receive the best feedback from our trainees in the GMC survey but Grampian and Highland also consistently rank among the top regions in the UK in quality of life surveys.

Whether it is the vibrant social life of the cities of Aberdeen or Inverness or the fantastic outdoor opportunities that abound in the North of Scotland, we have something for everyone.

Get a Feel For Aberdeenshire, Part of The Grampian Program

If you are not familiar with Aberdeenshire, here is a video produced by the local Council that shows off some of the strengths that contribute to the region's award-winning quality of life. A look at some of the top class industries in Aberdeenshire, including oil & gas, tourism, fisheries, food & drink, and the stunning history & heritage of Aberdeenshire.

A Wee Tour of Aberdeen

If you are interested in coming to Aberdeen to join our Grampian program but are not familiar with it then have a look at this video to get a feel for what its like.

A wee tour of Aberdeen from Roy Stewart on Vimeo.

It's not just about Aberdeen, within an easy drive of Aberdeen you can be in the heart of the Cairngorms or Royal Deeside.

My Dear Paradise in the Highlands FB promo from Roy Stewart on Vimeo.

2015 GMC Trainee Survey

The results of the 2015 GMC Trainee Survey are now available on line.  The survey is a valuable source of feedback for us and allows us to see where are programs are working well and where we need to improve them.

Unfortunately, now that Scotland is considered as a single deanery we are no longer able to separate out the North of Scotland however looking at Scotland as a whole, this years survey continues the very positive message that trainees have given us in the past.

Looking at the GP component of our training programs we are ranked second in the UK for overall satisfaction, just being pipped by Health Education South West who scored 90.7% compared to our 90.6% !  Looking at the GP component of training in more detail we were consistently ranked near the top in the UK.

• Educational supervision:- Top
• Clinical Supervision:-       Second
• Induction:-                        Second
• Supportive environment:- Second

So why not come and join us in one of the UK's top Deaneries for GP training!

Relocating From London

My name is Harriet and I'm a newly qualified GP just returning to work after my maternity leave. Relocating to Aberdeen from London just before my son was born, I was completely new to the area, personally and professionally. I confess to some anxieties about the transition but so far, the decision to move to Scotland has proved to be one of my best.