Faculty & Quality

The General Medical Council (GMC) conducts the National Training Survey annually to gather insights into the experiences of doctors in training across the UK. This survey is a crucial part of the GMC's efforts to monitor and report on the quality of medical education and training.

The GMC reports are produced at Primary Care Network (PCN) level, aligning with the NHS England Workforce Training and Education Approved Learning Environment and Educator process. These annual reports are publicly accessible via the GMC Education Data Reporting Tool website.

In the past, the GMC would contact any practice where trainee survey results were below expectations, working directly with the practice to develop a plan for addressing areas of concern or improvement. This process has now shifted to the PCN level. As a result, some North Central London (NCL) PCNs may be contacted if their overall scores fall below national targets. In such cases, the GMC NTS team will send the named PCN educator lead or clinical director a form to complete, outlining steps to address areas requiring improvement.

Key Points to Note

• No Follow-up Meetings: Once the PCN submits the report to the GMC NTS team, no follow-up meetings are scheduled.

• SMART Objectives: PCNs are encouraged to use SMART objectives (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to clearly demonstrate the steps taken to address any concerns or areas needing improvement.

• Additional Information: More details about the GMC NTS survey and the education data tool can be found here.

PCNs should also copy the NCL Training Hub Faculty and Quality team (nclicb.approvedlearningenvironments@nhs.net) when returning their report to the GMC NTS team.

For any questions regarding the GMC NTS process, please contact the NCL Training Hub Faculty and Quality team and copy your borough Training Hub.

What to Do if You Have a Complaint or Quality Concern

Maintaining high-quality care and support in primary care is essential for creating safe and transformative educational environments. Training Hubs work with NHS England to ensure that quality and safety are upheld for learners in primary care settings.

For Learners

If you have a concern or complaint regarding your training pathway, please contact your local Training Hub and copy the NCL Training Hub Faculty and Quality team. The key contacts for borough Training Hubs are listed below.

For Educators and Learning Environments

If you are an educator or work in a learning environment and have a concern or complaint about the training and supervision of learners, please reach out to your local Training Hub. Make sure to also copy the NCL Training Hub Faculty and Quality team.

The NCL Training Hub Faculty and Quality team will work with you and the borough Training Hub throughout the review process, following the guidelines from NHS England’s Primary Care Education Quality team (part of the Quality Patient Safety and Commissioning (QPSC) team).

Changes to a Learning Environment

Educators and learning environments must inform the NCL Training Hub Faculty and Quality team of any changes that could affect their ability to support education, training, and placements. Examples of such changes include:

• Changes to the CQC rating

• Employment changes of a named educator, such as:

- Leaving or stopping work in the environment

- Adjustments to working hours or sessions

• Any reviews related to the quality and safety of service or training delivery

• Mergers with another practice or primary care provider

• Any significant changes to the practice estates

Please notify your borough Training Hub and the NCL Training Hub Faculty and Quality team about these changes promptly.

For contact details, refer to the key contacts section below.

The NCL Faculty and Quality team: nclicb.approvedlearningenvironments@nhs.net

Barnet Training Hub: barnet.cepnadmin@nhs.net

Camden Training Hub: murat.ozcelik@communitymatters.co.uk

Enfield Training Hub: kerree.Ahern@nhs.net

Haringey Training Hub: carolynmatthews@nhs.net

Islington Training Hub: islington.traininghub@nhs.net

NHS England Primary Care Quality & Patient Safety team: england.quality@nhs.net

London GP School Support team: england.gpschool.london@nhs.net