Stockport GP Trainers

Stockport VTS

We have close links with Stockport's Vocational Training Scheme which has been popular for over twenty years, and deserves its excellent reputation. Many of its alumni are now GPs and GP Trainers in Stockport. A study guide can be downloaded below.

For more information about the Stepping Hill Hospital component of the VTS scheme,  visit the NHS Stockport Website You can also visit the North-West Deanery website

The Programme Organisers are:

Dr Bonny Needham

Dr Bonnie NeedhamHaving been to St. Andrews/Manchester Universities, I did my GP training in South Manchester and Stockport. I worked briefly as a CMO before becoming a partner at Gatley. After doing the first PED course and completing a Certificate in General Practice, I discovered my passion for medical education. I combine half-time clinical work with my 4 educational “hats”. I have been course organiser in Stockport for the last 6 years and am now also Programme Director for GP Training. I am the GP Education Lead for Stockport PCT and am responsible for organising the Protected Time (E4E) Scheme, and I am a GP Appraiser.

Dr Bonny Needham

Gatley Medical Centre
Old Hall Rd
Gatley
Stockport
SK8 4DG

0161 426 5100

Bonny.needham@gp-p88024.nhs.uk
Bonny.needham@ntlworld.com

th1Dr Tom Howling

After completing the Stockport VTS in 2000, I spent a year as a locum GP before becoming a full time partner at Brinnington Health Centre. I am a GP trainer and also have experience as a GP appraiser and as a facilitator on the deanery HPE and PED courses. I have recently completed a Postgraduate Certificate in GP Education at Manchester University and an MSc in General Practice at UCLan.

Dr Tom Howling

Brinnington Health Centre
Brinnington Rd
Brinnington
Stockport
SK5 8BS

0161 430 4002

tom.howling@gp-p88043.nhs.uk
thowling@btinternet.com

The Scheme aims to provide:

  • Experience in general and management skills.
  • Identify learning needs for the trainee
  • A comprehensive programme over the 2 years of the hospital component
  • To promote trainee based personal development skills
  • A friendly supportive learning environment

Induction Course

This runs for the first eight weeks of the Scheme during the initial two month general practice placement. This session is held every Tuesday afternoon with a pre-arranged timetable of topics to be covered.

Hospital Attachment Teaching

This follows the induction programme and the group is amalgamated with Year 2 trainees. The session runs once a fortnight during term time. Topics are generally pre-arranged by myself with slots available for the group to set topics of interest. There is a mixture of traditional teaching, group based work and valuable guest speakers. Above all else the sessions are about building links with fellow trainees in a relaxed non-threatening atmosphere. Each trainee will have an appraisal twice in every academic year.

Stockport offers 6 posts for vocational training in general practice commencing every August. The initial 2 months in General Practice provides a link with your G.P. trainer early on and also focuses the learning during the 2 years in Hospital to what is relevant in general practice. All the schemes give six months experience in obstetrics/gynaecology and Paediatrics. The other two posts are from the following specialities:

  • General Medicine
  • Care of the Elderly Medicine
  • Accident and Emergency
  • Psychiatry
  • Rheumatology

ENT/Orthopaedics and A&E (This is an innovative combination post for 6 months involving all three specialities in a pre-formatted working week)

Additional clinic experience is also available in ophthalmology and E.N.T. and trainees are more than welcome to attend.

We have a good working arrangement with the Hospital Consultants and as such the teaching is within protected time and arrangements are made with the departments for trainees to attend, apart from in situations where there is a formal teaching programme within the department, for example A&E which runs an excellent weekly programme.

The Stockport scheme continues to innovate year on year and provides an enjoyable learning environment and valuable experience to pursue a career in General Practice.

Downloads

VTS Study Guide

** may change as a result of introduction of Foundation Years

Useful Links