Study and Annual Leave Guidance

The current contractual entitlement to GPRs for study leave is 35 days per year, leaving about 5 days after the VTS release course commitment. Annual leave entitlement is 5 weeks, leaving 47 weeks in a year for the training programme. It was agreed that one day each week (i.e. 47 in total) would be allotted to a planned educational programme. This would obviously include the VTS course, attendance at appropriate clinics or sessions, or other appropriate courses. This component of the training year might also be used to have more directed clinical work within the practice if recommended by the registrar’s trainer.

In addition, there are 47 half-days of personal study that are intended to include preparation time for assessments, examinations and other self-directed learning. The clinical sessions then become 6 sessions a week, totalling 282 over the training year.

No further reduction in this clinical training component is allowed, and any further personal or planned study must be taken by agreement with the trainer within the annual leave entitlement.

Centrally funded GPR Courses

In addition to the half and full day release course running throughout Severn & Wessex, the Deanery funds free courses for Summative Assessment, Family Planning Theory via Wessex Courses Centre and the 3 day MRCGP course. Both FP and MRCGP courses run at a variety of venues throughout the Deanery.

The Deanery funds a single attendance at these courses for its GPRs. To book a place simply contact the appropriate organisation and let them know you are a Severn & Wessex GPR. You may be asked to send a returnable booking fee but the course itself will be free to all attendees.

Claims for Course Fees for GPRs

In addition to this, funds are held by each patch Associate Director for the GPRs in their locality. There is a nominal £300 per year per GPR although under exceptional circumstances more funding may be available locally. The study leave allowance may be used to fund the cost of attending courses relevant to General Practice, including travel and subsistence. GP Registrars should discuss with their GP Trainer and Course Organiser the most appropriate and effective way of using the funding available to them.

The study leave allowance is not payable to Doctors undertaking a period of additional training under the Specific Skills or Senior Registrar initiatives.