In August 2013 The Bell Surgery became a training practice. This enhances the practice by keeping us up to date with developments and we also benefit from the trainee’s expertise. GP trainees will be allocated to the surgery for either six or twelve months depending on where they are in their training programme. The trainees are qualified doctors who are undertaking training to become a GP.
We have 2 GP trainers in the practice: Dr Doling and Dr Norman. We may have several trainees in the Practice at any time. Our GP trainees are all qualified doctors with several years of hospital experience and often some General Practice experience. They are completing part of their 24 months of General Practice training with us in order to achieve Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners and qualifying for independent practice. All trainees are closely supervised by their trainer.
Patients are able to book an appointment with a GP trainee in the same way as with any of the GPs, your appointment with a GP trainee will be scheduled as a longer appointment.
Our trainees are encouraged to see problems through with patients, which provides continuity of care for patients and helps with their training. They are fully involved with the practice and participate in other practice activities such as home visits, staff meetings, and visiting Nursing Homes.
You will be informed when you book your appointment that it is with a trainee GP and the length of the appointment. We will seek your feedback on their performance during their time with us.
Occasionally we need to make video recordings of some of the consultations between patients and the GP trainee. The videos are part of the end assessment for our trainees. We will always ask for your consent prior to recording your appointment and provide you with a Video Consent Form. If you do not want your appointment to be recorded please inform reception – this is not a problem and will not affect your consultation in any way.
If you do not mind your consultation being recorded we are grateful to you. Improving the assessment of GPs should lead to a better service to patients.
Thank you for supporting us in training our future GPs.
We welcomed Dr Harvey Johnson (m) in February 2023. Dr Johnson will be completing his GP training with us until February 2024.
We welcomed two new trainees in August 2023: Dr Ibrahim Elnaggar (m) and Dr Tawa Olanipekun (f) – will both be with us for 12 months until August 2024.