Urgent and Unscheduled Care is now assessed in the same way as the other clinical experience groups.
Trainees evidence of capability should be linked to the clinical experience group on the e-portfolio.
The flowchart below shows the updated processes for demonstrating capability in Urgent and Unscheduled Care.
Trainees in general practice should continue to book sessions with traditional OOH providers and the RCGP states that they will need to spend “significant time” in OOH to fully demonstrate their UUC capability. However, this is only one experience that contributes towards the development of UUC capabilities. There should be ample opportunities to demonstrate UUC capability during normal working hours. Activities may include telephone triage, emergency appointments, referrals to the ambulance service and hospital, and any acute home visits. OOH preparation courses may count as “observational sessions”. Those working in secondary care placements should also continue to demonstrate UUC capability through emergency care to patients.
Trainees cannot fully demonstrate their UUC capability if they have not undertaken any OOH shifts. Those who are experiencing difficulties accessing shifts must discuss this with their local educators early on if they are affected. Assessment of UUC capability is based on the quality of the evidence provided and it is important that trainees link relevant log entries and workplace-based assessment to the UUC clinical experience group so that educational supervisors may assess this as they do the other clinical experience groups. Provided that there is good quality of UUC evidence educational supervisors should indicate that the OOH requirements have been met.
A link to the relevant section of the RCGP website may be found here
For further information please see the FAQs below.
This can be accessed in Health Education England (HEE) approved centres working with HEE approved Clinical Supervisors. It is also possible to develop capability within hours during “duty days” in training practices and in the hospital during jobs such as A&E, psychiatry, acute medical units and whilst on call in paediatrics.
Most training has to be during GP attachments, and it is likely that the bulk of this will be during ST3. Relevant experience may be accrued during the hospital posts listed above. Observational sessions, in which the trainee attends relevant courses or observes other health professionals, without undertaking any clinical responsibility for patients, can be undertaken as part of the normal weekly protected educational sessions at any time throughout training. This is useful within ST1 and ST2 to demonstrate progression of capability.
The learner must not embark on this training during sick leave or whilst Out of Programme (OOP). It is possible to undertake observational or direct supervision sessions on Keeping in Touch Days during maternity leave provided this has been agreed with the Indemnity provider, ES and TPD. Near and remote supervision sessions must not be undertaken.
Observational – Typically ST1. Trainee observes health professional consulting in urgent and unscheduled care but has no input into patient management. Includes relevant courses. The time comes out of protected learning time during the normal working week. This type of session is likely to make a very limited contribution to the demonstration of capability.
Direct – Typically ST1/2. Trainees consult patients with an approved supervisor present. This could include a joint surgery on call in the practice as part of the weekly tutorial. For sessions undertaken in settings outside of the normal training practice and working hours, time off in lieu should be granted.
Near – Typically ST3 but could be ST1/2 if competent. Approved clinical supervisor is readily available in the same building. Time off in lieu must be given for sessions undertaken outside of normal working hours.
Remote – ST3 trainees only. Approved clinical supervisor available by phone. Time off in lieu must be given for sessions undertaken outside of normal working hours. Trainees should not be asked to undertake any remote sessions until they have completed at least 6 months of whole time equivalent “near” sessions.
Any direct, near or remote session that is worked outside of the normal practice hours (excluding study leave for relevant courses) must be compensated by time off in lieu and should be granted by the training practice. This time should ideally be given back within two weeks of undertaking the shift. Observational sessions within the training practice, approved out of hours settings, extended access hubs or urgent care centres should be taken from the weekly self-directed study time.
In the unlikely event that practices are not providing time off in lieu you should initially speak to your educational supervisor. If this does not resolve the issue, then your training programme director needs to be informed.
The lead employer has agreed that the new requirements will not affect the pay of GP trainees, despite them working fewer anti-social hours than in previous years.
This should only be HEE approved supervisors. However, observational sessions may be provided by a named supervisor in the organisation who may not be HEE approved.
- Knowing yourself and relating to others
- Applying Clinical Knowledge and Skill
- Managing complex and long-term care
- Working well in organisations and systems of care
- Caring for the whole person and the wider community
Use the Health Education East of England (HEEoE) GP School “Urgent and Unscheduled Care Session Record” which can be downloaded from https://heeoe.hee.nhs.uk/general_practice/gp-trainees/urgent-and-unscheduled-care. The completed form should be signed by the clinical supervisor and then discussed and signed by the educational supervisor or clinical supervisor if the educational supervisor is in a different practice. You are strongly recommended to upload this onto the e-portfolio as it will provide evidence for your educational supervisor as to how you are progressing. Additionally, it is vital to document relevant cases seen when working in urgent and unscheduled care that reflect the required capabilities.
Developing capability is a continuous process throughout the three years of GP training and there will need to be evidence of progression at each annual review of competence progression (ARCP) panel. Capability may be evidenced from a variety of sources.
National guidance now is that trainees must gain experience of managing patients presenting with urgent and unscheduled healthcare needs, which is an important feature of both 'in-hours' and 'out-of-hours' GP care. Because there are particular features of unscheduled care that require a specific educational focus, such as the increased risk of working in isolation, the 'high-stakes' nature of clinical decisions, the relative lack of supporting services and the frequent need to promote self-care, it is important that trainees spend sufficient time in out of hours. Trainees may also attend sessions within urgent care treatment centres and walk-in centres provided that the site is HEEoE approved, there is access to an approved HEEoE supervisor, sessions are undertaken outside of the normal practice working hours and that the trainee is not seeing their own patients with access to the complete medical record.
Trainees in their ST 1 and 2 phases, whilst in GP placements, will need to develop their capability by undertaking “observational” and “direct” sessions. This will enable them to undertake “near” and “remote” supervision sessions within ST3. “Direct” supervision sessions may be undertaken during ST3, particularly in those parts of the region that do not allow trainees to consult by themselves. If this is the case trainees should endeavour to provide evidence of independent working in urgent and unscheduled care linking evidence, for example, from duty days at the training practice. If the OOH clinical supervisor and educational supervisors assess trainees as being competent to undertake “near” supervision sessions whilst in ST2 this should be encouraged.
COGPED states that there is no one particular type of session that is required to demonstrate capability within urgent and unscheduled care and a range of sessions is suggested. However, it should be noted that “observational” sessions are unlikely to demonstrate capability to any particular degree and trainees should be concentrating more on “direct”, “near” and “remote” sessions.
There is no upper limit to the amount of out of hours work that trainees may undertake. However, trainees will only receive an anti-social enhancement for up to 108 hours within their contracts of employment. Furthermore, with the new junior doctor’s contract and reduced hours that trainees work in their training practices, consideration must be given towards the impact on the rest of their training. Whilst training in urgent and unscheduled care is important this should not adversely impact upon the other clinical experience groups.
It is very unlikely that this would achieve the capabilities by itself. There is an expectation that you can consult in an environment where full access to clinical records is unavailable. The capabilities do not relate to the management of routine care.
You are encouraged to arrange CBDs, COTs, Audio COTs and CEPS as these will provide evidence of your capability. However, they need to be carried out by experienced HEE approved Clinical Supervisors who are well versed with the assessments.
OOH Clinical Supervisor – Identifies capability and indicates this on the Urgent and Unscheduled Care Session Record
Practice Clinical Supervisor – Where the educational supervisor is based at another practice, confirms the assessment of the OOH clinical supervisor using the Urgent and Unscheduled Care Session Record and agrees further developmental needs with the trainee.
Educational Supervisor – Confirms the assessment of the clinical supervisor using the Urgent and Unscheduled Care Session Record and agrees further developmental needs with the trainee. At the end of year ESR assesses whether the Urgent and Unscheduled Care Clinical Experience Group demonstrates satisfactory development.
ARCP panel – Utilises the assessment by the educational supervisor as evidence for the panel’s recommendation regarding progress.
You should be reviewing this regularly with your ES. The “Urgent and Unscheduled Care Session Record” should act as a trigger for a professional conversation with your ES or CS, who should assess the evidence collated to that point and suggest further developmental needs that should be recorded as a PDP entry.
Trainees should link their evidence to the Urgent and Unscheduled Care Clinical Experience Group within the e-portfolio and upload relevant urgent and unscheduled care session records.
You should have completed BLS & AED training. The BLS training is valid for 12 months and ALS training certificate is valid for 3 years, but the training should have taken place during GP training. The certificates on your e-Portfolio should be valid at the time of your CCT and attached to a shared log entry so that they are visible to your educational supervisor and the ARCP panel.
You should still be addressing your capability by undertaking and evidencing on call work within the training practice, but there is no requirement to undertake any further out of hours work during the ST4 post.
You are advised to continue to add evidence to the Urgent and Unscheduled Care clinical experience group. If you have had an extension due to failure of WPBA it may be necessary for you to undertake further OOH sessions, depending upon the recommendation of the ARCP panel. If your extension is for examination failure attendance at OOH may not be necessary.
Depending upon the length of your career break it may be sensible to undertake further OOH shifts to refresh your skills. This will be in addition to providing UUC evidence from your daily work.