GP Training: Where in the UK To Apply and Why

The first stage of General Practice (GP) specialty training recruitment comprises an electronic form via the Oriel recruitment portal. Alongside providing personal and past employment details, applicants must indicate where they would like to train.

Preferencing

The electronic application form for GP specialty training requires applicants to rank the UK deaneries/Health Education England (HEE) local offices (regions) in order of their preference.1 This is termed preferencing. Applicants can be considered, and must be prepared to accept offers, for training posts in any of their preferred regions. Consequently, it is important that applicants only prefer regions in which they are willing to work. 

One application is submitted for all available GP training posts in participating regions. Applicants may also preference regions that are listed as having no vacancies, as training posts may become available at later dates.1 

Preferences are locked at the point of application submission. However, later, there is additional time to review the selection. This spans from the date of invitation to the Multi Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) to 48 hours before the first offer date. 

In a nationalised list, all applicants are ranked based on their performance in the selection process. Offers are made in order from the best scoring applicants for training posts that are in the applicant’s highest ranked region, out of the regions that still have training posts available when the applicant’s ranking on the national list is reached. 

There is the option to upgrade after accepting an offer. Additionally, there is an opportunity for further preferencing when an offer has been accepted and the deadline for upgrade has passed. This is in the form of the deanery/HEE local office allowing offer holders to choose their preferred locations or training posts from those that are available in the region.1

Choosing where to apply

Applicants are advised to conduct research before preferencing regions. Important considerations include the programme duration, which is typically three years but may be four years in Scotland, the workload, and living arrangements, for example, accommodation and willingness to work away from home. Results of the annual National Training Survey (NTS) conducted by the General Medical Council (GMC) can be used to inform decisions.

The NTS collects data on trainees’ views on the training they receive, for example, clinical supervision, workload, curriculum coverage and facilities.2 The overall satisfaction of GP trainees in secondary care placements and general practice placements by deanery/HEE local office in 2021 is listed in Table 1. 

Table 1 – National Training Survey 2021 GP trainees’ overall satisfaction by deanery/HEE local office (data from General Medical Council, 2021)

(each value is a score out of 100 which represents how positively or negatively trainees answered the questions regarding overall satisfaction)

Entrance to GP specialty training is competitive. It is advisable to consult competition ratios for previous years. The competition ratios for round 1 in 2020 by the deanery/HEE local office are listed in Table 2. In 2020, training posts in London were most competitive; the least competitive region was Northern Ireland.3 

Table 2 – Competition ratios round 1 2020 by deanery/HEE local office (table adapted from General Practice National Recruitment Office, 2020)

Applicants with special circumstances and a need to train in a specific region can be pre-allocated a training post. Eligibility criteria include if the applicant has a medical condition or disability that can only be managed in a specific location, or if the applicant is a primary carer for someone who is disabled.1 A special circumstances application form, including supporting evidence, must be submitted. 

Targeted Enhancement Recruitment Scheme (TERS)

The Targeted Enhancement Recruitment Scheme (TERS) is a financial incentive of £20,000 for applicants who accept training posts in England, Scotland and Wales that are typically difficult to fill or are in under-doctored or deprived areas. These areas are often remote but have good standards for education. Many trainees choose to continue working in these areas after their training has concluded.1

The total number of TERS posts per deanery/HEE local office vary yearly. In their applications, applicants interested in TERS should rank highest a ‘hard to recruit to’ training post.4 The single £20,000 payments are subject to tax and are received by trainees after agreements to complete the whole training programme have been signed.4

References

1. Applicant Guidance General Practice ST1: Recruitment 2021-22 [Internet]. General Practice National Recruitment Office. [cited 5 August 2021]. Available from: https://gprecruitment.hee.nhs.uk/portals/8/Documents/National/GP%20ST1%20Applicant%20Guidance%202021-22%20-%20FINAL.pdf 

2. Welcome to the education data reporting tool. General Medical Council. 2021 [cited 5 August 2021]. Available from: https://reports.gmc-uk.org/analytics/saw.dll?Dashboard&PortalPath=%2Fshared%2FNTS_LTD%2F_portal%2FNTS&Page=Home&P1=dashboard&Action=Navigate&ViewState=a0pqfjaqav6me5vk4nh1nd0ufu&P16=NavRuleDefault&NavFromViewID=d%3Adashboard~p%3A1jcbv24b6u7fnhe4 

3. Competition Ratios. General Practice National Recruitment Office. 2021 [cited 5 August 2021]. Available from: https://gprecruitment.hee.nhs.uk/Recruitment/Competition-Ratios 

4. Targeted Enhanced Recruitment Scheme in England FAQs for GP Applicants (2021-22). General Practice National Recruitment Office. 2021 [cited 5 August 2021]. Available from: https://gprecruitment.hee.nhs.uk/Recruitment/TERS/England