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Frequently asked questions

1. What is the Somerset GP Education Trust, SGPET?
2. How does SGPET work?
3. How much will it cost to be a member?
4. What are the benefits of joining?
5. Three years ago Somerset GPs were invited to join the Wessex GP Educational Trust - how will this Somerset Trust be different?
6. Can other members of our practice team join the Trust?
7. I wish to attend a non SGPET course, does SGPET provide funding?
8. I belong to an established group who organize our own education events, will SGPET accredit them?
9. Is there a discount for joining all GPs from a Practice?
10. I'm not a member of SGPET can I still attend a course?
11. How do I book a place on an SGPET course?
12. How do I join?
13. How do I find out what is on and what is local to me?
14. I want to suggest a topic for an SGPET course how do I go about it?
15. I missed a course that I was interested in, can I get the key learning points afterwards?
16. Most sessions are in the evening after work is food provided?
17. I'm a member of another Trust does SGPET have reciprocal arrangements?

What is the Somerset GP Education Trust, SGPET?

SGPET is totally concerned with supporting Somerset GPs in their learning, work and professional development of all Somerset GPs through the provision and coordination of a wide range of educational activities. We recognise the importance of this to GPs themselves, the practices they work in and patients receiving care. We also fully appreciate the links between continuing education and revalidation, career progression and professional wellbeing. Hence SGPET is a joint initiative between Somerset LMC and the Somerset GP Education Team. SGPET has some features similar to GP education trusts in Devon, Wessex, Bristol, Bath and Gloucestershire, and yet offer Somerset GPs a local organisation, responsive to local needs and geography, building on the best of what has already been happening and adding a lot more on top.

How does SGPET work?

The Somerset GP Tutors organise and provide a full programme of educational activities to help you meet your learning needs, including the Yeovil GP Update and the Fresh Looks refresher course in November. We fully appreciate that Somerset GPs have a wide range of factors governing how, where and what time they prefer to carry out their learning and what we plan to provide takes all of these into account. So there are speciality master class days, skills workshops in injection techniques, local small groups, a management course for new GPs, multidisciplinary workshops in chronic disease, a forum for discussing the wider ethical, social and philosophical issues of health care and a lot more besides.

Somerset LMC provides administration and financial management for SGPET from it's Taunton office and provides an electronic meetings diary so that other education providers can avoid date clashes and the Taunton Postgraduate Centre GP Education website will have full details of the SGPET activities as well as providing summaries of past events so that everyone can know what's coming up, and get something out of things they can not get to.

As well as providing events to help you address learning needs arising from your day to day work with patients, SGPET collaborates with the Practice Based Commissioning Group, Somerset PCT and the Somerset acute and community trusts to provide educational activities which address shared priorities and service developments, so helping you to respond to NHS changes and challenges more easily.

Please look on the website under courses or calendar to see what is coming up:

How much does it cost to be a member?

Like all GP education trusts SGPET is a membership organisation with annual subscriptions. In an effort to keep the cost of membership reasonable and at the same time wanting to avoid the complicated fee structures of some Trusts we have set the subscription rate for the year from April 1st 2011 at £100.00 for all GPs.

We are able to offer reasonable subscription fees, as we will receive significant support from the Severn GP School (Deanery) in terms of GP Tutor and secretarial time. Where our collaboration with other NHS organisations involves shared work which is resource dependent we anticipate appropriate financial support from our partners. We appreciate the benefits, issues and potential conflicts that can arise when pharmaceutical company sponsorship supports GP education activities and we will always ensure that any such support meets the principles and guidance of the ABPI and NHS GP Education and is clearly described and communicated to all potential participants in SGPET activities.

In recognition of the level of support from Severn GP School, and in order to invest in the future of local general practice, all Somerset GP ST1,2 and 3 doctors will be honorary members while they are carrying out their GP training.

What are the benefits of joining?

• for current membership year free participation in all educational activities
• access to the Somerset GP Education website giving full details of future educational activities, summaries of past activities and links to a useful range of educational resources
• support in implementing the Personal Professional Development Plans agreed at annual appraisal
• access to a range of information, resource and support in establishing and maintaining practice-based learning activities
• opportunity to take part in local mentorship and/or small group learning initiatives
• free participation in relevant SGPET activities for the practice nurses and practice manager of practices where all GP partners are members
• GPs who are non-members are normally charged £15.00 per hour of SGPET Education that they attend.

Three years ago Somerset GPs were invited to join the Wessex GP Educational Trust - how will this Somerset Trust be different?

The invitation to join the Wessex GP Educational Trust arose at a time when the Severn and Wessex Deaneries were amalgamated and a number of Somerset GPs have enjoyed its benefits. The Deaneries are separate again now and it is important that we establish a GP Education Trust wholly relevant to general practice in Somerset, a Trust that is a partner of the LMC and which has strong links to Severn GP School. The benefits of SGPET are on your doorstep and will grow and evolve in the directions you want and need.

Can other members of our practice team join the Trust?

We start out to be a GP only membership. Some trusts have developed to include other primary care professionals as members and this might or might not be a direction that the membership wishes to go. For now, however, for practices in which all GPs are SGPET members then that practice's nurse/s and manager can attend relevant SGPET events at no cost.

I wish to attend a non SGPET course, does SGPET provide funding?

The subscription rates are very low and members are able to access all SGPET session free of charge as well as those of other Trusts with whom we have reciprocal arrangements. We are also a new Trust and have not amassed any surplus to enable us to finance outside courses and therefore do not have any provision to provide financial support to non SGPET courses at present.

I belong to an established group who organise our own education events, will SGPET accredit them?

SGPET has accreditation criteria and policy all available on the website. Please have a look at this section on our website and apply, or telephone to discuss this in more detail.

Is there a discount for joining all GPs from a Practice?

The fee is very reasonable and we are not able to offer a discount if we are sustain SGPET. However, if all GPs are members then Practice Managers and other members of the practice can attend any SGPET courses free of charge.

I'm not a member of SGPET can I still attend a course?

Yes, attendance is invoiced at the rate of £15/hour.

How do I book a place on an SGPET course?

Places can be booked online or by e-mailing sgpet@somersetlmc.nhs.uk , or telephone 01823 331428 or mobile 07833400960. It's helpful if when you book a place you can provide some input into the session by indicating any specific areas you would like to discuss. If you intend to come we would prefer that you do book a place in advance so that we can organise catering.

How do I join?

Please complete an application form and forward it with a cheque to LMC office. You can also e-mail or phone for a copy if you prefer. (Details as above) The same form can be used for multiple applications from the same practice. If you would like to pay by BACS please contact SGPET for bank details.

How do I find out what is on and what is local to me?

All course details are available on the website, either on the Courses page or the Calendar and it is clear what the topic is, as well as where it is being held. A weekly email with the next 6 weeks' programme is sent to all Somerset GPs and Practice Managers. If you do not receive this email and would like to then please contact SGPET.

I want to suggest a topic for an SGPET course how do I go about it?

Please e-mail us via SGPET@somerset.nhs.uk, or phone on 01823 331428 or mobile 07833400960.

I missed a course that I was interested in, can I get a copy of the presentation afterwards?

Yes, they will be added to the website Presentations page in due course.

Most sessions are in the evening after work, is food provided?

Yes, food is provided before the session starts. If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know. Pharmaceutical Reps normally sponsor the food so we would be grateful if you could interact with them.

I'm a member of another Trust does SGPET have reciprocal arrangements?

Somerset Education Trust has reciprocal arrangements with the Trusts of Gloucester, Bristol and Swindon, and members may attend courses run by these Trusts free of charge. Bath GP Education Trust has amended their reciprocal arrangements; please check their webisite for details
Wessex Education Trust does not offer a reciprocal scheme, as instead they offer a reimbursement of costs to their members in part or full, for the cost of attending educational sessions away from Wessex GPET. If any Wessex members attend any Somerset GPET sessions they will be invoiced by SGPET, and should apply to Wessex to re-claim this amount.