The application process for general practitioner trainers in United Kingdom deaneries: similarities and differences

A survey was undertaken of the application and reapplication forms used by all the UK deaneries for general practice (GP) specialty training. The aim of the survey was to identify similarities and differences between deaneries in terms of the content and nature of the information requested, and the relationship of that information to the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board's (PMETB) Quality Assurance Framework (QAF). The details requested on the application forms were compared to the guidance set out in Generic Standards for Training, in order to see if they reflected the areas and standards required by the PMETB for the quality assurance of medical education and training. Although many similar areas of information were requested in the application process, great variation was found across some items which were not attributable to regional or contextual differences. The survey also found that the majority of domains of Generic Standards for Training are not well covered in the paper application process. Although deaneries may view their application processes for trainer approval as robust, this paper makes a number of recommendations and argues for the development of a standardised form for the appointment of general practice specialty training (GPST) trainers across the UK, based upon the PMETB QAF.