Transition to independent practice: a national enquiry into the educational support for newly qualified GPs

The nature of the work that NQGPs are undertaking in their transition to independent practice is changing; current training may not fully prepare them for this new peripatetic role, as indicated by rising numbers of reports of poor performance in this group. Educational support at the time of transition from general practitioner (GP) training to independent practice had previously demonstrated benefits, but many formal schemes have finished.

This study aimed to map out the current provision of educational support provided by the UK deaneries for NQGPs and to explore NQGPs' perceptions of the present transition from registrar to independent practitioner.

Questionnaire surveys of deanery provision and semi-structured telephone interviews of a purposeful sample of newly qualified GPs across the UK. Interviews were thematically analysed.

Deanery provision of educational support to NQGPs varies across the UK. Telephone interviews highlighted the transformation as problematic; NQGPs perceived that independent practice was substantially different from being in a training post - locum work, isolation and accessing educational opportunities were concerns. NQGPs frequently expressed a desire for more formalised relationships with mentors, senior colleagues or peer groups, to support their shift.

As NQGPs increasingly find themselves working as locums, lacking the opportunity for stable work-based relationships, and with an increase in medical errors being reported in this group of doctors, it is suggested that there is a need to reconsider the educational support required to facilitate the transition in the early years of independent general practice.