GP training updated for an evolving health environment

1 June 2012

GP training updated for an evolving health environment

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners has delivered on schedule to the Medical Council an updated and expanded training programme and curriculum to equip GPs to practise successfully in New Zealand’s rapidly evolving health environment, says College President Dr Harry Pert.

“We’ve submitted a dynamic and innovative working document designed not only for those who are training in general practice but also for experienced general practitioners maintaining their competencies. It’s an outcomes-based curriculum that focuses on preparing GPs for the new requirements of primary care in the community,” says Dr Pert.

“It gives trainee GPs the ability to develop advanced skills within a generalist framework and allows for structured development of a career pathway. This better reflects the broad scope of general practice GPs experience now, while giving them scope to pursue specialist interests.

“Since 2010, the College has been working in partnership with Health Workforce New Zealand and the Medical Council to review how general practitioners are trained. We’ve jointly identified a need for GPs to provide more complex care and the need for stronger relationships to be formed between primary and secondary services.

“Our new curriculum has taken this review into account and built on the significant work completed since 2008. The current curriculum has been enhanced, new curriculum statements have been developed and existing syllabuses expanded to meet the changing needs of the New Zealand population and our primary care environment.

“The Curriculum for General Practice 2012 is divided into six Domains and 31 Curriculum Statements and outlines the competencies related to the wide range of patient populations and processes in general practice in New Zealand.

“The kaupapa, or spirit, of this document reflects the cultural diversity of New Zealand society and the need for GPs to work with patients, family/whānau and general practice teams to achieve good health outcomes.”

ENDS

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