I have been given printouts from a friend with discussions relating to
PRHO's in GP - I have resumed my mail from GP-UK mailbase for a while.

Within the NW of England I am one of the educational supervisors for a
pilot where we have 3 PRHO's per year rotating between Medicine, Surgery
and GP from the Blackburn group of hospitals. the scheme started in
August 1997, is all set for another intake in August 1998 and is being
extended to other sites in the North West. I have some training
experience although I am not the trainer in the practice.

Overall I have found the experience useful and manageable within my day
to day work. Inevitably there will be an initial 1/12 period or so when
the PRHO will need much supervision - I tend to consult in tandem with
the trainee doctor, blocking off an appropriate number of slots in my
surgery depending on the stage the PRHO is at. After the 2nd month I
would say "payback" occurs, in that they are helping more than being a
"hinderance". As with any trainee doctor it will depend greatly on the
individual, 4/12 will not be long enough to improve a bad doctor. There
is not "masses of paperwork", everything at the moment is rather
informal - however it will not stay like that.

Regarding renumeration, at present the practice is recieving the
pitifull amount of £3k per year. We see the scheme as a "loss leader"
for starters, but hope that as this work becomes more established the
renumeration will become that of a Trainers Grant. I would not at
present feel a greater renumeration is appropriate. In saying that,
considering what others seem to be being paid for PRHO's then I will be
bringing this to the attention of our Regional Director of PostGraduate
Education.

Best Wishes,

               John Zak     

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