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Life on Durham & Tees Valley GP Training Programme
Durham & Tees Valley GP Training Programme (DTVP) (Previously
named Tees Valley VTS) was initially a means
to an end for us as it was in the right place at the right time, at
least it would have been if the Army had played ball regarding my
Husband’s medical training. Long story short, we moved here on
promise, but I soon found myself living hundred of miles away from
my husband, pregnant and miles from friends and family. Happily he
is now training locally.
I didn’t know much about the area or the programme but have really come to love it down here. The patients you will see come from a huge socially diverse background and there is a lot of deprivation interspersed with pockets of wealth. The North East people are incredibly friendly and certainly appreciate THEIR doctor. I found a lot of support personally from the local community being on my own with a new baby, and professionally the TVVTS have been incredibly supportive. I started off full time training and have now dropped to part-time in various guises. My hospital posts have been relevant and challenging. One Canadian doctor likened North Tees Hospital to Harlam without the gun-crime, but this is great fun in A&E! I have worked in two very different GP practices and loved them both. The trainers are fantastic, supportive and will push you to achieve your potential. This is echoed by others on the programme. The programme is a friendly place to be and a lovely port in the storm of hospital placements, when you may not see any other GP trainees apart from your weekly teaching. The weekly teaching is varied, relevant and dynamic – things you want to learn will be covered.
Teesside is a real hidden gem so shush.................. We have beaches, the North York Moors, the Cleveland Way, rock climbing, canoeing, triathlon to name a few things for the outdoors folks. If you are looking for culture there are local bands, local arts (and beer) festivals, Stockton and Middlesbrough Arts Council who put on all sorts. There are numerous English Heritage Sites close by – The Importance of Being Earnest is due to play at Mount Grace Priory. Newcastle is an hour away with a massive arts scene. If you want to get away then Darlington is on the Mainline East Coast and you can be in London or Edinburgh in less than 3 hours. If you have children then there are excellent local schools, and you will find your money goes a very long way in terms of property. In short, there is so much going for this area when you scratch the surface. We came here out of necessity but now as I come to the end of training, I think we will end up staying.
Dr Eilidh O’Loughlin, ST3
August 2010
I didn’t know much about the area or the programme but have really come to love it down here. The patients you will see come from a huge socially diverse background and there is a lot of deprivation interspersed with pockets of wealth. The North East people are incredibly friendly and certainly appreciate THEIR doctor. I found a lot of support personally from the local community being on my own with a new baby, and professionally the TVVTS have been incredibly supportive. I started off full time training and have now dropped to part-time in various guises. My hospital posts have been relevant and challenging. One Canadian doctor likened North Tees Hospital to Harlam without the gun-crime, but this is great fun in A&E! I have worked in two very different GP practices and loved them both. The trainers are fantastic, supportive and will push you to achieve your potential. This is echoed by others on the programme. The programme is a friendly place to be and a lovely port in the storm of hospital placements, when you may not see any other GP trainees apart from your weekly teaching. The weekly teaching is varied, relevant and dynamic – things you want to learn will be covered.
Teesside is a real hidden gem so shush.................. We have beaches, the North York Moors, the Cleveland Way, rock climbing, canoeing, triathlon to name a few things for the outdoors folks. If you are looking for culture there are local bands, local arts (and beer) festivals, Stockton and Middlesbrough Arts Council who put on all sorts. There are numerous English Heritage Sites close by – The Importance of Being Earnest is due to play at Mount Grace Priory. Newcastle is an hour away with a massive arts scene. If you want to get away then Darlington is on the Mainline East Coast and you can be in London or Edinburgh in less than 3 hours. If you have children then there are excellent local schools, and you will find your money goes a very long way in terms of property. In short, there is so much going for this area when you scratch the surface. We came here out of necessity but now as I come to the end of training, I think we will end up staying.
Dr Eilidh O’Loughlin, ST3
August 2010
Page last updated :
08 May, 2013