New Training Programme Director
Andy Downs has been appointed as the new TPD for Tees Valley VTS. He hopes to demonstrate over time that this was not a mistake.

Premises
We are still negotiating with a number of potential landlords, unfortunately we are an unusual tenant with quite a lumpy need for space (teaching on Wednesdays). We are trying to secure a site that satisfies our office requirement, need for teaching space, adequate parking, easy access from all of our patch plus space for registrar milling (crowd not wheat). The extension of our lease in Grey Towers has given us some breathing space. All the regular summer HDR session can now be accommodated in Grey Towers.

Trainer Reappointment
The panel will sit on 7th May. As previously a 10% of trainers will be asked to attend. Those of you who are due reappointment will be reminded by email. I had forgotten!

ARCP Panel
The panel will sit for GPRs in ST3 on 11th June, and on 25th June for ST1 & ST2. Assessments for GPRs in ST3 will need to be completed by the 28th May so that the scheme report can be sent in time for the panel. We expect GPRs who have received an unsatisfactory educational supervisors report, together with a 10% random sample will be required to attend in person.


OOH
Geoff and I were at a recent meeting with our colleagues at Primecare. We were both surprised to hear that they usually do not get a traffic light assessment of the GPRs attending for OOH sessions.
Can I urge you to email Primecare (or your OOH provider if different) with the traffic light assessment found here. This should take place within the first month of an attachment and again during the attachment should the grading change. Sue Redfearn has agreed to be the single point of contact, you can email her on susan.redfearn@primecare.uk.net .

We are trying to get a dialogue between trainer and OOH supervisor. The supervisors are provided with your email addresses, again I would recommend using Sue’s email address as our point of contact.

Primecare are providing GPRs with their own log in, as a prerequisite to this GPRs have to sign Primecare’s computer use policy before working (see OOH page in the Registrars section of this website).

Study Leave
I am aware there has been some discussion regarding private study leave to prepare for exams. This will not be supported by the scheme. Deanery policy states that “The only courses that attract central funding are the scheme and and DFFP courses. The Deanery encourages GPStRs not to attend regional tertiary standard speciality training, not to take external exams such as DRCOG, DCH or MRCP, and does not condone the taking of private study leave for any reason. Trainees should not attempt to qualify as GPwSI during their standard training programme.”
To read the fully policy go here
The hospital trust as your employer can grant you study leave as it sees fit in which case no central funding will be available either as course fees or travel expenses. In this case you will either have to bear any costs yourself or seek to claim them from your employing trust.

Andy Downs

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