THE REGISTRAR YEAR SURVIVAL GUIDE

1. THE REGISTRAR YEAR SURVIVAL GUIDE NICOLA HILLS

3. TODAYS AIMS • Getting Started • Organising the year • MRCGP / SA • Important paperwork / PMETB • Top tips

4. Getting started • All already underway! • ? Memorised everyone’s names yet • Mastering EMIS etc • Where/how/when to refer or get advice • Map of local area

5. Missing being an SHO? • Most Wednesdays on day release • Half day (study/shopping) • No bleeps • No evenings/nights/weekends! Hurray!

6. Organising the year • Goes very fast! • Lots to cram in as well as learn how to be a GP • Develop own way of being organised eg diary/PDA • Regularly update portfolio folder/PDP

7. Summative Assessment • MCQ • Video – can be single route with MRCP • Trainers Report • Audit • Apply by sending form – www.nosa.org.uk website

8. MCQ • 6th Dec, 7th Feb & 2nd May • 3 hours long • Can resit 5 times! • Automatically pass if pass MRCGP MCQ • Free!

9. Quite random • Don’t revise first time round • Cover dull areas eg employment law, sick notes, DVLA • Inc ENT/ophth/derm • Don’t read too deeply into questions

10. Video • Bit complicated • Can just submit SA video or ‘single route’ • Quite loose criteria for SA route, see www.nosa.org.uk • Needs to be 2hrs long, min 8 consultations, none >20mins long

11. Single route video • Workbook on RCGP website • Send to deanery, if fail MRCGP will be assessed for summative • 7 consultations • 14 criteria (10 pass and 4 merit), need to fulfil each pass criteria in minimum of 4/7 • Each consultation stopped at 15 mins

12. Must inc a child <10 yrs and psych/social case • Need consent forms and log book • Only send log book with video • Deadline for either route 27th April.

13. Tips re videoing • Start early, even if just so you can laugh at them at the end of the year • Watch with trainer for advice or to make him/her laugh • Will become more natural • Key questions on a post-it out of shot

14. Check sound quality • Date and time needs to be visible • Can do on DVD, best to have video back-up • Make sure patients not exposed in shot (behind curtain/lens cap)

15. Audit • Get started asap! • Need time to make changes and re-audit • Simple ideas are best eg relate to QOF/guideline • Ask trainer/colleagues for ideas and with help to so searches • Hot topics book

16. Michael’s guide on website very helpful • 8 criteria proforma • Max 3000 words • Type double spaced • Anonymised • Send 3 copies and keep one

17. Trainer’s report • Should be sent booklet • Key competencies to be checked off by trainer • Do anytime as you go along • Submit 6/52 before end with VTR1 form to deanery

19. MRCGP • MCQ, Written paper, Oral and video • £310 per module • Closing date for application – 2nd Feb 2007 • MCQ/written – 2nd May 2007 • Oral – 21st - 30th June

20. See syllabus on college website • All past written papers on site too – invaluable • Also examiners comments (if done badly before, may be back!)

21. Study group • Essential to passing MRCGP • MRCGP is as much technique as knowledge • Meet weekly, start ? January • Practice written paper questions • Then oral questions • Wine + food + gossip = distinctions

22. Out of hours • Need minimum 72 hrs over the year • Start asap as often only 3-5 hr shifts • Hassle trainer to get shifts • Should be supervised • Mix of base/visiting doctor • Can be supervised by other drs

23. Log book available • Only need to submit a form signed by trainer deeming you competent • Form from deanery website, can send with trainer’s report/VTR1 forms to deanery

24. Worth making note of interesting/referred patients to f-up what happened • Try different bases/shifts • Good future source of income!

25. Paperwork • Tedious but essential • Send VTR2 (SHO posts) forms off asap to deanery then to certification unit of RCGP with £350 • Will then become associate member of college (free BJGP)

26. Nearer end of year need to register with PMETB, apply for CCT, send VTR1 form and £500! Bargain….. • All very complicated, see college summary and contact list

27. Top Tips • Keep up to date folder/PDP, try and do weekly as will not remember what you’ve done, trust me! • Record details of tutorials, educational meetings, day release sessions • Reflect on meetings/courses attended – what learnt? Still to learn? • www.gpnotebook.co.uk

28. Courses • MRCGP revision course – really helpful re technique • Hot topics – 1 person per study group, then photocopy excellent handbooks • Minor ops - ? That helpful • DRCOG/FFP if interested/female….. • Funding limited, so chose wisely

29. Reading • BMJ – worth flicking through regularly, make note of interesting/relevant studies • BJGP – read if you have no hobbies/friends • Doctor/Pulse/GP – fun, easy to read, job adverts • BMJ careers – should be getting GP version

30. Books • Pastest – MRCGP MCQ revision book – Peter Ellis • Pastest – Practice papers for the MRCGP written exam – Rob Daniels • Get through the MRCGP MCQ – Una Coales • Get through the MRCGP oral/video modules – Una Coales • MasterPass EMQ for the MRCGP paper 2 – Hayley Dawson • Critical Reading for the MRCGP 2e – E Stacey • Medical statistics made easy – Michael Harris • Concepts and answers for the MRCGP oral exam – P Naidoo

31. And when it’s all over…. • Celebrate exam success! • Consider career options….locum, assistant, partnership, popstar…… • Remember full-time = 4 days/week • You can negotiate a salary!

32. Suggestion for the Automated Switchboard of a Psychiatric Hospital. Thank you for calling.If you are obsessive-compulsive, press  '1'  repeatedly.If you are co-dependent, ask someone else to press  '2'.If you have multiple personalities, press  '3', '4', '5'  and  '6'.If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want;  just stay on the line and we will trace the call.If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a voice will tell you which number to press.If you are depressed, it doesn't matter which number you press, we won't answer your call anyway.( If you are a GP, forget about referring a patient because there aren't any beds. )

33. That’s all folks………………… ANY QUESTIONS?....