The real costs of teaching medical students in general practice: a cost-collection survey of teaching practices across England

Joe Rosenthal; Robert K McKinley; Chris Smyth; John L Campbell

doi:10.3399/bjgp19X706553

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Unfunded work experience placements may be unsustainable
Douglas GJ. McKechnie, Danielle Nimmons, Robert Smith and Nader Al-Shakarchi

Published on: 24 January 2020

Published on: (24 January 2020)
Page navigation anchor for Unfunded work experience placements may be unsustainable
Unfunded work experience placements may be unsustainable
Douglas GJ. McKechnie, Academic Clinical Fellow in General Practice, Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London
Other Contributors:
Danielle Nimmons, Academic Clinical Fellow in General Practic, Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London

Robert Smith, Medical Student, University College London Medical School

Nader Al-Shakarchi, Medical Student, University College London Medical School
Rosenthal et al.¹elegantly demonstrate the negative financial incentives to general practices hosting undergraduate placements. In the midst of a workload crisis in primary care, it is logical that practices are less able to offer activities that are effectively loss-making.

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Rosenthal et al.¹elegantly demonstrate the negative financial incentives to general practices hosting undergraduate placements. In the midst of a workload crisis in primary care, it is logical that practices are less able to offer activities that are effectively loss-making.

As well as increasing undergraduate exposure to general practice, the Wass report² also recommended broadening access to GP work experience placements for pre-university students. Whilst the RCGP has pledged to fund over 220 placements for work experience students,³ the vast majority of practices that host work experience students receive no specific funding for this.

If improving access to GP work experience is part of the national recruitment strategy, providing even a notional financial incentive to practices would be effective at encouraging hard-pressed practices to offer meaningful work experience placements to school students.

References

1. Rosenthal J, McKinley RK, Smyth C, Campbell JL. The real costs of teaching medical students in general practice: a cost-collection survey of teaching practices across England. Br J Gen Pract 2020; 70(690): e71–7.

2. Wass V. By choice — not by chance: supporting medical students towards future careers in general practice. Health Education England and the Medical Schools Council, London; 2016.

3. GPonline. RCGP to fund hundreds of work experience placements in GP practices. [cited 2020 Jan 10]. Available from: www.gponline.com/rcgp-fund-hundreds-work-experience-placements-gp-practices/article/1489010.

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Competing Interests: None declared.

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