The Bangor Specialty Training Scheme is based in North West Wales. Bangor is a "City of Learning" with an ancient cathedral and a thriving university of over 6000 students. It is situated on the beautiful Menai Straits and as you would expect in a university town has a wide range of recreational and entertainment facilities.

The Bangor Specialty Training Scheme is flexible and can cater for the needs of doctors in formal 3 year rotations or extended less than full time training schemes. Every effort is made to ensure that the half-day release course is protected time and is attended by those in hospital posts as well as in general practice. The Programme Directors try to guarantee that the hospital component of training is slanted towards general practice and that a group identity is maintained throughout the 3 years.

The general practice posts are spread throughout North West Wales, encompassing a mix of relatively urban practices in places such as Bangor and Holyhead and rural practices such as Llanrwst and Betws y Coed. The Bangor Specialty Training Scheme has 20-30 doctors on it at any one time in various stages of their training.

There are 7 excellent training practices attached to the scheme. There are a number of GP practices situated around Gwynedd that are approved for training GPST doctors. Due to the increasing complexity of regulations of who can be allocated to a certain practice, you have already been allocated your training practice. Whilst every attempt will be made to stick to these allocations, there may have to be changes that are made necessary for a variety of reasons.

Most of you who are in your ST2 year will be spending 6 months in a general practice training post. Your GP trainer for this post will act as your Educational Supervisor for your hospital post in this year. Although there is no attachment in the ST1 year many practices and trainers would be happy to establish some contact at any stage in your training and we are we are establishing a week’s study leave based in your future ST2 practices.

There is a very homely supportive atmosphere on the scheme. This is partly due to the fact that the scheme is relatively small and therefore the educational sessions can be run weekly with the whole GPST group. In addition the friendliness of the local people and the quality of training in Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor contributes hugely to the enjoyment of training in this area.

The scheme prides itself on our support for the nMRCGP examination and all trainers are involved in preparation for this and we hold twice yearly CSA preparation sessions and delivery of the half day release topics.
During the hospital component of your training there is regular feedback on your performance, advice on how to address your learning needs, and a curriculum for each speciality orientated towards general practice.

If you are interested and enthusiastic about becoming a GP and would like to train in a friendly supportive scheme in an area offering a wide range of amenities and opportunities, we would be delighted to meet you.