Introduction: Training for General Practice in Bolton
Bolton offers a fantastic opportunity to live and learn. We especially look for doctors who particularly want to come to Bolton or have connections here.
Bolton’s pit of pathology is combined with brilliant educators. What more could a doctor in training look for?
After work we have restaurants and pubs to suit all tastes; a premiership football team or a quick walk on the beautiful West Pennine Moors.
Bolton GP Specialty Training Programme
The Bolton GP Specialty Training Programme has been running for over 30 years with improvements and modifications along the way. Indeed, the Programme Director and ST3 Course Organiser are products of the scheme in 1984 and 1986 respectively.
We offer a number of posts to suit the educational needs of our applicants, all of which will help and guide you to become excellent General Practitioners.
- 3 Year GP ST Rotation (2010)
We have at least 20 vacancies each year, which consist of four consecutive six month posts. The first year will be entirely in hospital. You will have an integrated training post in each track - this consists of 2 days a week in a speciality, and 3 days a week in GP.
Rotations for 2010
Track 1: Paeds., O&G. Year 2: PCT ITP(1), A/E Track 2: Med., A/E Year 2: Paeds., O&G ITP Track 3: Psych., Med. Year 2: A/E., Pall Med ITP Track 4: Med., A/E. Year 2: Paeds., Eld Psych ITP Track 5: Orthoger., A/E. Year 2: Paeds.,O&G ITP Track 6: Psych., O&G. Year 2: Pall. Med( Hospice), PCT(2) ITP Track 7: A/E., O&G. Year 2: Pall.Med.ITP, Med. Track 8: Med.(W) Paeds.(W) Year 2: O&G., PCT(3) ITP Track 9: O&G, Paeds Year 2: A/E, ITP (Medicine) The PCT Posts will be:
- 1. Medical based
- 2. Community paeds.
- 3. Musculoskeletal
We are willing and happy to have doctors who wish to train flexibly (subject to funding).
An ST3 year based in a local practice.
Please note the medicine and Paeds posts in track 8 are based in Wigan
Hospital
The Bolton Hospital Trust has a reputation for excellent teaching and training with many doctors from various specialties wanting to come to learn in Bolton.
The education experience in General Practice combines many forms :- lectures, tutorials, personal study and even the old fashioned teaching ward round!
The Joint Deanery College visits have commented on the quality of the teaching in all subjects related to general practice.
Educational Support
- The Programme Director and GP educator hold Bi-Monthly teaching sessions, currently on a Tuesday (ST2) and Thursday(ST1) afternoon. Occasional evening tutorials are arranged, but are followed by dinner!
- All specialties have their own educational programme, with protected learning time.
- You will have a Clinical Supervisor during each of your hospital training posts. In addition you will be allocated an Educational Supervisor throughout your 3 year training. He/she will help and guide you educationally. This is particularly important when you start as you engage with your e-portfolio and Work-place based assessments, and also in your ST3 year.
- The Wednesday lunchtime lecture at the Education Centre is a time and place where primary and secondary doctors meet to formally and informally over the lunch or lecture.
- You will also have one day per month in practice, to meet with your Educational supervisor and also familiarise yourself with your training practice and its methods/IT etc.
Medicine
Your six month attachment will be in either respiratory medicine or endocrinology/diabetes.
This is a busy department with exposure to a huge variety of medical conditions. All the consultants are very supportive of their junior staff. The whole directorate meets for protected teaching time on a Wednesday afternoon from 2pm – 5pm.
Orthogeriatrics
A new post in 2007, with Dr Simon Stacey as Lead Consultant, together with the Orthopaedic Surgeons. Bolton is a centre of excellence in Orthopaedic Education in the deanery, and the consultants are tailoring their teaching to what is neded in General practice. This is then complimented by medical tecahing with Dr Stacey.
Paediatrics
A popular specialty in Bolton. These posts are designed for generalists or GPs, i.e. not intensive care. The protected teaching time is on a Tuesday at present. You also have a week in community paediatrics to gain accreditation for Child Health Surveillance.
This is one department where doctors want to come to learn either as a GP or specialist. Excellent consultant support and a great team spirit.
Accident and Emergency
One of the busiest A & Es in the region, but well staffed with middle grade and consultants who are again supportive educationally and developmentally.
There is a full shift system in place and many opportunities to explore the full breadth of emergency medicine. Formal teaching sessions take place weekly (great feedback) but much informal teaching takes place on a case by case basis.
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
This department offers an opportunity and exposure to all aspects of the specialty. Lots of deliveries, included instrumented if that is what you wish. A wide range of interests by the various consultants from pure obstetrics to urodynamics.
The protected teaching time is on a Friday, with the Juniors often presenting cases or topics.
Two additional GP ST posts were started in August 2007, and have transformed the department. The current feedback is of a busy department providing a huge range of experience, with Quality teaching in protected time
Palliative Medicine (Or ITP Post)
There are 2 posts within Bolton providing Palliative care teaching.
The first is a new (for 2008) full-time post at Bolton Hospice. The second is an itegrated training post-You will spend Monday and Tuesday at Bolton Hospice, then three days at the Unsworth Group Practice at Westhoughton.
The Bolton Hospice has 14 inpatients beds and a very busy and active day unit/outpatients. It is one of the few hospices recognised for SpR training in the Deanery, with two consultants Dr B Downes and Dr A Parr.
The Unsworth Group Practice has a long established reputation for quality teaching. You will have either a tutorial or joint surgery each week as part of your protected teaching time. The Programme Director is a partner in this practice.
Psychiatry
There are 3 posts in psychiatry. 2 are full time posts in general psychiatry, and one is an intrgrated training post in elderley psychiatry- you will spend 2 days a week in Psychiatry, and 3 days a week in Kearsley medical centre.
Further Information
For more detailed information about the Trust please contact Medical Staffing Dept. at the Royal Bolton Hospital.
If you would like to discuss any or all of the Bolton Scheme please contact the GP ST programme director (Dr Malcolm Brown), or GP ST Educator (Dr Julian Page)
Credits
This page was last updated on 4th January 2010. Website designed and maintained by Steve Bradburn © 2003-2010