Welcome to the first issue

Welcome!

Welcome to this first edition of PGPPP Update!. It is our intention to publish the update once per PGPPP term as a way of sharing news and information about the program. The distribution list for this eNewsletter is PGPPP supervisors and Practice Managers, DPETs, JMO Managers, Medical Educators and current trainees. PGPPP is now a mainstream program for NCGPT and it is already showing impressive results.

Since NCGPT’s program started in 2010, 20 doctors have rotated through our various posts and more yet to come too fulfill 2011. The feedback so far has been fantastic. The doctors are enjoying the terms and find them well structured, supportive and excellent learning opportunities. The practices are also positive about the program and the young doctors coming through the posts. Already several of the doctors have indicated they intend to apply to NCGPT’s registrar training program for 2012. Even if the program doesn’t turn these doctors “on” to general practice it will give them valuable and lasting insights into GP which will serve them well in whatever specialty they choose to pursue.

I would like to thank all of the training practices that have taken the leap of faith with us on this important and exciting program. Without your enthusiasm and commitment we could not have succeeded in securing funding for the program. The JMO Mangers and DPETs at the four base hospitals, as well as senior staff in the local health networks, have also given us strong support to get the program off the gound. NCGPT looks forward to further building on those relationships over the next few months and years.

Finally, thank you also to the doctors who have signed up for the program. We think you’ve made a great decision and we look forward to working with you during your terms and we hope to welcome many of you back as registrars in the years to come. 

John Langill

Chief Executive Officer

PGPPP Term 3 Orientation

 Term 3 PGPPP doctors: L to R - Jinying Li - Toormina; Lysandra Katelaris - Westside Medical; Anthea Dallas - Grant St; Dru Haywood - Woogoolga.

The term 3 orientation on 8-9 June at Coffs Harbour Novotel went well. We all arrived fresh post floods and hopefully instilled much more confidence in our new PGPPPers as they already had two days in their GP practices. This initial time in the practice made the sessions much more relevant – especially reassuring them they will survive the first week and encouraging them to ask their supervisor if in doubt about anything.

John Vaughan, our Medical Educator and Director Prevocational Education and Training from Port Macquarie was a fantastic co-presenter, especially as this was his first PGPPP orientation. Tim Francis, our Coffs Harbour ME and DPET and wife Sonya had a baby girl on the Wednesday afternoon so Tim’s sessions were well covered by John.

John regaled us with stories of his time in the Torres Strait at dinner and the career path possibilities for GP’s looked considerably wider and more interesting after that. It seems the orientation for the PGPPP in Queensland was much more on the run before they had to deal with the next emergency.

We had good participation and feedback and all sessions were evaluated highly and a variety of styles kept everyone interested. The IT session using Practix live went well with IT person Terry Daniel. Nicola Foster, our other Ballina ME did a great job enlightening the others on Best Practice and the joys of Medicare, the PBS and consulting skills. The highlight for me was the role play where I played a pregnant 14 year old girl and Nicola being the draconian GP.

The wealth of knowledge experienced GP’s offer was great, but there are still many things we don’t know. “Always ask and follow up if unsure and most importantly …..enjoy!” was the take home message.

We have teleconferences every two weeks so this cohort can catch up with each other and already three of the four PGPPP doctors have indicated they are intending to do GP Training.

Dr Kayte Evans

Medical Educator and DPET - PGPPP

A slow start to 2011

A shortage of RMOs across the NSW hospital networks at the start of the year has meant a disappointing start to 2011 for some of our practices who have yet to host a PGPPP term. On the positive side the RMOs that have been allocated have been of a very high calibre. Also the feedback from each and every one of them has been very positive – “It’s been a fantastic learning opportunity” said Willika Kurstjens who spent term 1 at Musgrave Street Medical Centre.

John Langill CEO and Bruce Barling PGPPP Program Manager visited the major Sydney feeder hospitals on 4-5 May to continue to build our relationships with them and to try and get commitments for the remainder of this year and next year.

Practices and Terms Filled

We have seven active practices in 2011, they are:

• Musgrave Street Medical Centre, Coolangatta
• Grant Street Clinic, Ballina
• Union Street Medical Centre, Maclean
• Woolgoolga & Northern Beaches Medical Centre, Woolgoolga
• Toormina Medical Centre, Toormina 
• Westside Medical Centre, Port Macquarie &
• CPC Medical Centre, Port Macquarie

The number of terms being filled so far:

• Term 1 we had 4 RMOs
• Term 2 we have 3 RMOs
• Term 3 we have 4 RMOs
• Term 4 we will have 5 RMOs

Our aim, of course, is to have all seven positions filled each and every term.

Rural Preferential Recruits

The Clinical Education & Training Institute (CETI) coordinates the annual allocation of final year medical graduates from Australian and NZ Universities to 15 prevocational networks in NSW. The Rural Preferential Recruitment (RPR) Program is a merit based recruitment process administered by CETI which occurs prior to the main allocation round with the purpose of:

1. Facilitating access to rural hospitals for rural cadets and other medical graduates who wish to complete their prevocational training (2 years) in a rural hospital. 
2. Facilitating the priority filling of rural hospital intern positions.
3. Building a sustainable workforce over the longer term in rural centres.

These doctors are just the group that we would like to see doing a PGPPP term because they are living in our communities and will get great benefit from the experience. We will continue to work with our local hospitals in Tweed, Lismore, Coffs and Port to promote the program to this group of doctors.

Prospects for 2012

The NSW Department of Health has advised that the number of Interns recruited this year increased by 109 to a total of 746. This increase will flow through to RMO numbers in 2012 so we are hopeful that we will have greater continuity of PGPPP supply next year.

Any ideas for articles?

If you have any ideas for articles, or issues you would like us to address in future editions, please email your ideas to Jennah Saville at jennahs@ncgpt.org.au