GP Registrar

We are a training Practice, which means that fully-qualified doctors, who have usually completed their 4 years of training in hospital mediciine. They then spend up to eighteen months working in a pracice to develop their skills in general practice.

We usually have at least one GP Registrar and you may be offered an appointment with him/her at the surgery.

Our current GP registrars are:

Dr Andy Huynh (From August 2012 to January 2012)

Dr Deepa Shanmugasundaram (From September 2012 to March 2013)

Dr Thet Aye (Joined the practice in Feb 2012 and is currently on maternity leave)

GP Training

BEING A TEACHING PRACTICE

What does this mean?

It means we are officially pproved to teach and train GPs, Nurses and Medical Students.

Why become a training practice?

By fulfilling the criteria needed and incorporating this into the way we work we expect to improve and maintain a higher standard of care for our patients.

How did we achieve this?

For The Surgery

The practice is examined to ensure that it provides an appropriate learning environment. It must provide a good

example both of clinical care and of management. The infrastructure must be sound, the records of high quality

and the team committed to learning. The surgery achieved this accreditation in 2003 from the East of England

Deanery based in Cambridge.

The Trainer

The trainer is examined independently to ensure that they have sufficient knowledge of practice and of education, skills appropriate to one-to-one teaching and educational management, and attitudes supportive of learning.

Dr Siddique is the trainer in the surgery and has completed a diploma in teaching adults from Cambridge University.

How are these standards maintained?

Every 2-3  years the practice is visited and inspected by a team of representatives from the Deanery who review the practice and interview the staff to ensure standards are being maintained. There is also feedback from the GPs who have been trained at the practice. Dr Siddique is also formally assessed during this visit. 

How many teaching practices are there in Southend?

Out of the practices in Southend central and Southend East there are 4 accredited GP training practices. 

What is a GP Registrar?

This is a qualified doctor who has decided to embark on a career in general practice, much like a surgeon or physician in the hospital. Like these doctors part of their training involves them spending a total of 18 months working at a teaching practice. This is usually divided into a 6 month and 12 month attachment. 

How much experience do they have?

By the time you see a GP registrar they will have spent at least 5 years at medical school to qualify as a doctor. Then they will have done 2 years working in hospitals (previously known as “house jobs”. They will then start a 3 year training programme to become a GP, during which they will spend 18 months in a training practice. Often the GP Registrar will have more up to date knowledge on hospital treatment and service than we do as they have just come from a hospital job. So by the time you see this doctor they may well have been working as a doctor for 4 years. 

Why do they have to ask other GPs in the practice for advice?

There is a vast difference in the range and types of clinical cases and patients seen in general practice compared to hospital medicine. In a surgical job at the hospital a doctor will only see surgical cases every day, in general practice an average surgery may consist of a general medical case, then an ill child, then patient with a skin rash then a patient with depression etc. So there is a wide variety which can be quite challenging when you start in general practice. The GP registrars are encouraged to ask for help whenever they want for your safety and benefit so please be patient, one day these doctors will also be competent GPs!