Why choose GP Specialty Training in Wales?

When you choose Wales for your GP Training you choose superb facilities and well organised training. The Wales Deanery operates 12 Specialty Training Schemes, which cover the length and breadth of the country. Wales offers a large variety of environments in which to train.

In choosing to train in Wales there are a number of opportunities that are available to you including:

• New recruits may be able to apply to extend their training and enter a GP Specialty Academic Training (GPSAT) programme in their ST2 year.
• All recruits into GP Training in Wales can rank their preferred training scheme. Further information on the ranking process can be found here
• GP Trainees are allocated an educational supervisor(s) who is a GP throughout the duration of their training programme
• Each Scheme is managed by two dedicated GP Programme Directors who are available to provide advice, support and guidance to GP trainees.
• GP Trainees in Wales have regular education sessions focused on the GP Curriculum and run by the GP Programme Directors

Since formal training for general practice was first piloted over four decades ago, Wales has been at the forefront of developments in GP Specialty Training. Indeed, some of the earliest schemes of training in the UK were set up in North and South Wales.

Over the last few years, new political structures in Wales have provided opportunities for innovation. The Welsh Government (WG) regards the development of Primary Care and General Practice as one of its top priorities. Several innovative schemes to support the training of future General Practitioners have been set up, funded by special grants from WG. These include not only developments within the specialist training programme where the introduction of 18 months of GP training as part of the three year scheme is now the norm but also schemes of higher professional education to offer additional training opportunities for those who have finished specialist training.

As a whole the training programme in Wales is managed by the General Practice Section of the School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education of Cardiff University. All Programme Directors and Associate Deans are on the staff of Cardiff University and are supported by the Director and Deputy Director. The School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education is also responsible for all other aspects of postgraduate education in medicine and dentistry in Wales, and funds the Postgraduate Centres and Libraries throughout Wales. The School has an important role in ensuring that all training in medicine and dentistry meets the required standards so that those qualifying will be able to offer the highest quality of patient care.

To find out more about GP Training in Wales:

GP Training Wales Strategic Overview 2011-2014

GMC Trainee Surveys

GMC Trainer Surveys