Blueprint for training in the community

SETTING up community clinical schools at universities would relieve pressure on training hospitals and provide good experience for general practice, GP groups say.Based on the existing rural clinical schools model, community clinical schools would allow medical students to train in general practice environments.

The call was one of six recommendations presented to the federal government last week following the recent General Practice Education Summit in Melbourne (MO, 20 July).

Australian Association for Academic General Practice president Professor Mark Nelson – who attended the summit along with representatives from General Practice Education & Training, the RACGP and ACRRM – said the community clinical schools would also help ensure training needs were met for the influx of medical students expected in the next five years.

“There is a lot of potential. The rural clinical schools have been successful in exposing and recruiting people into rural practice by providing the community with clinical centres.”

Other recommendations included establishing an infrastructure funding scheme so practices could “remodel” to deliver education.

An enhanced role for registrars as teachers and the inclusion of prevocational and vocational education in the Australian Health Care Agreements were also highlighted.

A spokeswoman for health minister Tony Abbott said the recommendations had been received and would be considered.