A Glimpse on General Practice Education Programme (GPEP) Training

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A Glimpse on General Practice Education Programme
(GPEP) Training
One of the biggest issues faced by hospitals and
rural GP practices in New Zealand is the
critical shortage of general practitioners. This
case has been prevailing for many years now, in
spite of the wide open opportunity for medical
jobs New Zealand. With a rapidly growing
population, and one that is increasingly ageing,
there simply are not enough GPs to meet the
needs of our communities. Whats more, many of
the GPs in practice now are planning to leave
the profession at some stage in the future.
According to the Royal New Zealand College of
General Practitioners (RNZCGP), of the GPs
presently in practice, 57 are aged over 50, with
27 intending to retire with five years and 44
intending to retire in the next ten years from
locum doctor jobs New Zealand. One of the ways
to offset these rather bleak statistics is to
support doctors to train as a specialist GPs.
Medical graduates and/or medical professionals
moving to New Zealand may be interested in the
RNZCGPs well-regarded, three-year General
Practice Education Programme (GPEP). Dr Richard
Medlicott, RNZCGP medical director and
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Wellington GP, believes the Colleges programme
is an excellent pathway to attaining a
specialist career as a GP in Aotearoa. Entry
requirements for overseas doctors include holding
a general registration from their country of
origin, at least one year of working in a New
Zealand hospital or in primary care and
registration with the New Zealand Medical Council
granted prior to course commencement. Funding
and bonding schemes are available through the
Ministry of Health and Health Workforce New
Zealand for eligible applicants. A new intake
commences training in December of each year, with
the three-year programme divided into two main
stages. GPEP1 combines on-the-job experience in
two 6-month blocks with support through
mentoring, weekly seminars and workshops.
Passing a clinical and written examination at the
end of the first year enables doctors to proceed
through to GPEP 2/3. This stage focuses on
continued clinical training, as well as
preparing each doctor to become a Fellow of the
College and a vocationally registered GP.
Further information about the College and the
programme itself can be found on the RNZCGP
website. Specialist general practitioners have
the chance to positively impact the lives of a
great many New Zealanders. As well as addressing
the chronic need within the health care sector,
there is real value and satisfaction in being
able to build relationships with families and
patients over time. Not knowing what will next
come through their door, GPs are trained in
locum medical jobs to be adept at switching
gears, thinking on their feet and remaining calm
under pressure. Being free from hospital rosters
means that they can achieve a work/life balance
that suits them, choose where they live and work
and explore the potential to be their own
boss. Ochre Recruitment has years of experience
in helping overseas doctors gain New Zealand
Medical Council registration, in working through
the GPEP application
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requirements and, perhaps best of all, in placing
GPs into either locum and permanent positions
that they love. If you would like to know more
about GP or locum medical jobs in New Zealand,
our Ochre Recruitment consultants would be happy
to talk to you today.