Trainee Resources

SuppoRTT e-Learning 

There is now a Supported Return to Training module for trainees available on e-Learning for Health. 

The objectives of the module are to:

• Understand the Supported Return to Training process.
• Recognise common issues and concerns for returning trainees.
• Gain information on the sources of support you may find helpful when returning to training.
• Hear from other trainees on their positive experiences of returning to training
• https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/676107

SuppoRTT Immersive Technology Resources 

The following are immersive technology resources which are aimed at a wide range of medical and surgical trainees, and can be accessed from home using a mobile phone or computer. They can also be used for group simulation and learning sessions. Many resources contain interactive immersive components; these can be viewed using just a computer screen, however for a more interactive experience you can use a VR headset.

Remote Consultation: An immersive technology resource

This is an online e-learning and immersive 360 degree video resource based around a remote consultation. It was originally developed with shielding/displaced trainees in mind, however this will be a useful resource for anyone consulting remotely. It addresses key skills including communication, using the multidisciplinary team, clinical management and safeguarding, as well as offering the opportunity to 'step inside' the consultation from the patient's perspective!

https://learninghub.nhs.uk/Resource/2323/Item

Three new immersive technology resources were launched in December 2021 which are a set of engaging interactive training resources including immersive 360-degree video scenarios, designed to help improve those essential human factor skills required to lead and be part of an effective team.

Although the resources were developed for trainees who have taken time out of training, they are helpful to anyone who wants to learn more about effective teamworking.

• Teamworking in Medicine
• Teamworking in Paediatrics
• Teamworking in Surgery

https://learninghub.nhs.uk/Resource/6732/Item

Escalating Concerns and Speaking Up

This resource is for people returning to work in the NHS after any prolonged absence. The purpose of this training is to empower returners to work with the confidence to speak up about any concerns they may have. 

This rich and innovative course is designed to immerse the learner in the first unaccompanied shift of a doctor returning to work after prolonged absence.

https://learninghub.nhs.uk/Resource/8420/Item

Less Than Full Time Training

Dr Karen Kidner (whose many roles include Consultant Anesthetist, Associate DME, LTFT Flexible Training Champion and Trust SuppoRTT Champion for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS FT, and TPD and School SuppoRTT Champion for the NW School of Anaesthetics) delivers this excellent presentation on Less Than Full Time training, the advantages (and challenges), the process, the practicalities, rotas and who can offer support:  

LTFT Presentation from SuppoRTT Update Webinar

This toolkit aims to support trainee colleagues during long term sick leave with mental health illness. 

Helping you to gain the most amount of help and support during an extremely difficult time, the toolkit provides advice on areas such as occupational health, practitioner health, counselling and it also explores areas such as return to work planning, keep in-touch days and less than full time training.

It has been written by Dr Matthew Palethorpe, Core Anaesthetics trainee in the North West, and has been endorsed by both NHS England and the Lead Employer. 

Mothers in Medicine Podcast

This podcast includes honest and open conversations with leaders in the medical field who are also mothers. Hear their real life stories and also gain from their practical tips and advice for managing the juggle.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2054086 (available on multiple platforms)

Breastfeeding Legal Rights

This Advice on Breastfeeding Legal Rights Factsheet has been developed to help support trainees who return to training.  

NB Plus is a subscription for online learning from NB Medical. More information can be found here. This enables GPSTs to have access to the full complement of courses that NB Medical provide for a period of twelve months at a time convenient to them. It includes live or pre-recorded courses in:

• Hot Topics GP Update
• Safeguarding and Child Protection
• Basic Life Support
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Women's health
• Urgent Care
• Mental Health
• and many more!

Subscriptions will need to be purchased directly from NB Medical, but reimbursement can be requested via the RTT-A process.

**Courses are available from other providers**.

Red Whale Unlimited - 12 months unlimited access to ALL Red Whale online learning – full and half day online courses, on a range of primary care topics, to watch live or on demand. Includes access to 900+ online articles on GPCPD.com for further learning and to help you answer questions in consultations. Find out what's included on their website.

Subscriptions will need to be purchased directly from Red Whale, but reimbursement can be requested via the RTT-A process.

The AKT is a mandatory exam for MRCGP and it is a computer marked paper testing APPLICATION of knowledge in a general practice setting. 
The exam is 200 questions over 3 hours 10 minutes and is held at a Pearson Vue test centre. The pass mark is usually around 70% and just over two thirds of those sitting the paper pass at any one sitting.
80% of questions are clinical medicine, 10% are organizational and 10% are evidence interpretation (statistics).

Please see Preparing for the AKT for more information and tips on how pass the exam.

As part of her role as Associate Dean in Health Education North West, Dr Alison Caldwell looks after GP trainees who sit the AKT and those that may fail. In this episode she shares her pearls of wisdom for preparing and sitting the AKT.

It has lots of useful information for trainees and trainers including how to break down the curriculum and where to best focus learning as well as how to actually do that learning effectively. We also cover how to improve exam technique as well as useful resources and specific advice for those who have tried and failed the exam.

We really want to make these episodes relevant and helpful: if you have any questions or want any particular areas covered then contact us on Twitter @PCKBpodcast

Listening on a podcast app

If you listen to podcasts already, you can find us on your favourite podcast app by searching “Primary Care Knowledge Boost”.

If you don’t have a podcast app, it is free and easy to install on your phone:

1. Go to your phone’s app store (the Google Play Store for Android users and the iTunes store for iPhone users)
2. Download a podcast app. Our favourites are ‘Castbox’, ’Pocketcasts’, and 'Spotify' as well as Apple’s own ‘Podcasts’ app for iPhone users.
3. Open your app and search for ‘Primary Care Knowledge Boost’.
4. Click “Subscribe”. 

Once you have installed an app and subscribed you should now be able to view our previous podcasts and will be notified when we post new ones.

Listening via direct link

If you want to listen directly, you can do so here: https://www.pckb.org/

This may not work on NHS computers but you should be able to open it on a phone, or personal computer/tablet.

️Contact us

Have feedback or suggestions? Just want to say hello? You can get in touch by either emailing us directly at primarycarepodcasts@gmail.com or on Twitter @PCKBpodcast