Sessional GPs may find themselves working in a number of challenging situations:
-If you have never done locum work before it can be quite daunting. Keeping up to date, selecting practices, getting organised and negotiating terms can all be challenging.
-If you have become a locum straight from vocational training or have arrived from another region you may also feel at sea. Newly retired GPs also face new challenges.
-If you're salaried within a practice you may wonder what to expect and who to go to for advice.
NELG offers opportunities for locum and sessional GPs to meet each other and discuss a variety of issues at our monthly meetings. Sometimes however you might wish to have a more private conversation with an individual who might have experience of the type of work you are doing.
The NELG mentoring system is designed to put members in contact with each other for more personal support. Mentors are member volunteers. The Group is looking into ways of supporting NELG mentors by offering training in mentoring skills.
If you are interested in this scheme either as a mentor or mentee please contact Neetika Dang. If you would like to be placed in contact with a mentor please also indicate some details about your current working situation which will help her select an appropriate mentor.
Contact details:
Carol Hartman-Andersen
GP Choices Manager
Appleton House
Lanchester Road
Durham
DH1 5XZ
0191 333 3313
email Durham & Darlington GP Choices
Durham & Darlington GP Choices website
Contact details:
Rosemary Reay
Assistant Administrator
Northumbria University
Room H013 Coach Lane Campus East
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE7 7XA
Telephone 0191 215 6693
Fax 0191 215 6083
email mentors Jane Dammers or Gail Young
Contact details:
Tracey Davis
GP Choices Administrator
Room 131 level 3
Galleries Health Centre
Town Centre
Washington
NE38 7NQ
0191 419 3930 (Head Office)
07798 667324 (supportline)
email Sunderland GP Choices Administrator
Sunderland GP Choices information
South of Tyne Mentoring Service for General Practitioners provides peer-support for doctors working in Primary Care in Gateshead and South Tyneside. GP Principals, salaried doctors and locums are welcome to use the service. The service is funded by Gateshead and South Tyneside PCTs and supports mentoring and co-tutoring arrangements by providing locum payments that enable doctors to take part in these activities. Specialist facilitation can also be provided to help pairs or groups. The service runs a Balint group and stages other events throughout the year. The co-ordinator is able to provide confidential one to one support for doctors experiencing personal difficulties.
Contact details:
email Dr Peter Brumby
c/o Longrigg Medical Centre
Leam Lane Estate
Gateshead
NE10 8PH
Surgery switchboard 0191 469 2173
Confidential answering machine: 0191 469 9444
Contact details:
email Leslie Dobson
01207 610901
Tees Valley mentoring scheme website
Contact details:
Regional Department of Psychotherapy
Claremont House
(Off Framlington Place)
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 4AA
Tel: (0191) 230 0043
Fax: (0191) 227 5142