Vocational Training: The British Experience

Abstract

Vocational Training regulations for General Practice were drawn up in 1979. From February 1981, one year as a trainee in general practice was required, and from August 1982 prospective GPs needed to have completed a three year training programme. General Practice is a distinct discipline for which appropriate postgraduate training is required. In the past some doctors voluntarily undertook this training to a greater or lesser degree but legislation covering the whole of the United Kingdom now ensures that new general practitioners are appropriately trained. T he regulations a)ere reviewed in 1985 in the light of the experience of the previous years. At this time it was considered appropriate to increase the educationally desirable objectives so that the balance between the different components of the prescribed experience should be improved.