Pre-registration house officers in general practice: The views of GP trainers

Background. Recent changes have led to an upsurge of interest in pre-registration rotations in general practice. In 1998, a national pilot programme of >40 new rotations incorporating general practice was implemented. Objective. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of GPs involved in the four pilot rotations established in South Thames region. Methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with trainers and partners. Results. The supervisory workload for pre-registration house officers (PRHOs) was much greater than that required by registrars. All GPs felt that increased remuneration was important for the future viability of the scheme. The majority of GPs remained supportive of the scheme, although a minority were concerned about the value of the experience gained by PRHOs. There were a few instances in which inadequacies in patient management had to be dealt with subsequently by trainers. The supervisory implications of such events will need to be addressed. Conclusion. This significant development in medical education has important implications for GPs and their patients which need further exploration through long-term evaluations.