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Here, you'll find information on the Half Day Release (HDR) sessions and guidelines for study leave, including course options and approval processes. This page will help you navigate your educational activities and maximise your learning opportunities throughout your GP training programme.

Educational Activities and Study leave

Our half-day release (HDR) teaching sessions run on Tuesday afternoons and all trainees are expected to attend all sessions unless absolutely not possible due to annual leave etc. A register of attendance is kept to monitor attendance and lateness. Departments are asked to release you for the sessions and if you have problems with this you should let the Programme Directors know. It is part of your professional duty to attend on time with respect to the speakers who have taken the time to prepare and come to teach you.

The afternoon starts with a pre-planned topic. Both Trainers and Hospital Consultants contribute to the pre-planned sessions. We plan to cover the whole curriculum over 3 years.

After a tea break, we have a group discussion in two groups, facilitated by the Programme Directors. This helps you to get to know and support each other, as well as consolidate and share your learning and experience as you develop as GPs. Trainees can bring a discussion topic of their choice, including:

Projects they have been involved in, such as quality improvement and leadership activities.

Difficult cases.

An article, paper, or guideline.

Trying a role play.

Media and news items.

During a GP placement when there is not an HDR session, it is expected the session will be replaced by an agreed educational activity which may include joint surgery or special clinic according to agreed learning needs.
Study leave of 30 days is allowed per year. Attendance at the Half Day Release (HDR) is covered by study leave arrangements and accounts for 15 days of the 30 days available to trainees. Study leave is not an entitlement but an allowance and the needs of patients must be taken into consideration.

Courses can be categorised as mandatory, optional or aspirational. Any course which is not listed on the “Pre-approved Courses” list for Mandatory and Optional courses are called Aspirational courses. Where a trainee wishes to undertake a course or event that is aspirational (not included on the “Pre-approved Courses” list), the trainee should discuss and get approval from their Educational Supervisor to ensure that the course is relevant to their professional development.

“Pre-approved Courses” list Download

The application for study leave is made locally i.e. the hospital or GP practice.

During GP rotations, trainees need to request study leave from their GP Trainer. Claims for expenses are applied through the LEO (Royal Free) via their expenses platform.

During hospital rotations at Hillingdon Hospital, trainees need to complete the Study Leave Request Form and give it to the administrator at the Education Centre or email it to thh-tr.medicaleducation@nhs.net. Claims for expenses will be processed by the Education Centre, to whom you should submit all relevant receipts and are paid via payroll.

Study-Leave-Request-Form Download

Study Leave must be authorised and approved before attending courses or costs/leave will not be granted. Conference/Course costs are paid by the individual doctor and reclaimed after attending the course. Reimbursement claims must be made within 2 months of attendance of course/conference. Proof of attendance and receipts should accompany any claim form. Exam fees are over and above this allocation. Exam costs have to be met by the doctor.

Up to 5 days Private Study leave may be taken for each exam. Private Study should be taken as near to the Exam date as possible. Leave for the day of sitting the AKT and SCA components of the MRCGP is normally granted in addition to the study leave entitlement.
You will have one session of Self-directed learning (SDL) each week in a GP post. You should take the opportunity to do some learning, such as attending a clinic to fill gaps in specific areas which are not covered by your posts.
Experience in dealing with urgent and unscheduled care can come from duty doctor in hours in GP surgeries, extended access hubs, urgent care centres and traditional out of hours settings. Demonstration of capability is more important than time spent. Evidence of capability can be gathered throughout the entire training programme, but most trainees spend more time doing this in ST3. Evidence should come from reflective case logs, WPBA, and UUC/OOH session feedback should be uploaded to your portfolio in the supporting documentation section of a learning log. It is recommended that to demonstrate this you will need to undertake at least 4 hours per month whilst in GP placements. Make sure your GP trainer writes that you are competent in Urgent and Unscheduled Care in your final ESR before CCT.

Downloadable Resource: RCGP out-of-hours session feedback form.

Further information on Urgent and Unscheduled Care

Out of Hours sessions are arranged with PracticePlus and they will email you to arrange an induction and login to book sessions at the beginning of a GP rotation. You will need to supply documents (e.g. DBS, GMC) and attend an induction. The email address is: londonrotateam@practiceplusgroup.com

Practices should release you for sessions and should, ordinarily, give you time off in lieu, where indicated, within two weeks of having worked the session in out of hours. Please note that some practices have built this time off into your contracted working hours. The sessions should be spread throughout the placement and you should give enough notice such that the practice is able to plan for this.
You may want to undertake additional training, e.g. for contraception and IUCD training and if so you should discuss this with your Educational Supervisor and Programme Director.
OOP experience is a chance to step off the training ladder and undertake other experience in the NHS. GP trainees may be eligible to undertake negotiated OOP experience whilst retaining a National Training Number (NTN) provided this satisfies the guidance and criteria.

You are advised to think about taking time out of programme well in advance of the intended date and seek the advice of your Educational Supervisor and Training Programme Director.

You will not be able to apply for OOP until you complete your first year of the programme. This is best taken between the end of the ST2 year and the beginning of the ST3 year. You must give at least 6 months’ notice in advance of the proposed OOP start date. Subject to the formal agreement of the GP School.

Application Forms are available on the PGDME portal.

Online form