One of the requirements during training is to demonstrate competency in managing out of hours/urgent and unscheduled care. All trainees rotating through their GP placements, during ST1-ST3, are required to carry out some out of hours shifts with Care UK or otherwise. 

 

There are no specific number of hours nor a specific number of learning log entries needed to meet this capability. However, it is stated that “whilst it is recognised that knowledge and skills needed to develop Urgent and Unscheduled capabilities may be gained “in hours” and in varying secondary / community / urgent care services there remain particular features more likely encountered in a primary care urgent care setting that require specific educational focus. Thus, to gain experience of, for example, working in isolation and with relative lack of supporting services GP trainees will need significant opportunities to develop these capabilities in primary care based Urgent and Unscheduled care  / Out of Hours provider organisations.”

 

For those on 6 month GP rotations, this usually equates to 24 hours of OOH experience and those on a full 12 month rotation, this usually equates to 48 hours of OOH experience. 

 

OOH shifts can either be face to face appointments in UCC, telephone triage or home visits and you can often book a variety of these throughout training to gain exposure. 

 

For every session of OOH completed, it is necessary to record these as learning logs and for these entries to then be linked to the clinical experience group for Urgent and Unscheduled care. In addition, an OOH form needs to be completed by the OOH supervisor after each session and these forms can then be attached to the OOH section on FourteenFish. It is strongly recommended these are uploaded as evidence. The aim is to have a “green” sign off by the end of your training to demonstrate capability in managing OOH care independently. 

 

Duty doctor shifts at your practice can also be counted towards OOH shifts.

 

A copy of the OOH feedback form and further information on OOH care can be found here.

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At Northwick Park VTS, OOH shifts are managed by Care UK. You will usually have an induction at the start of your GP rotations. OOH shifts are booked online and you will be provided with your login details following induction with Care UK. 

 

These shifts are usually managed by Sabah Ansari based at Care UK.