HOTS are responsible for overseeing the strategic delivery of academic activity related to University based primary care teaching
The HoTs group meets twice each year with representation from all UK medical schools with some lively eDiscussions taking place in between. Co-chairs are Joanne Protheroe (Keele) and Ben Jackson (Sheffield).
The group works closely with HODs, SAPC Exec and RCGP to provide a unified approach to provision of Primary care undergraduate education in the UK.
Please contact us if you have any questions about GP undergraduate teaching in the UK.
Contacts: Joanne Protheroe and Ben Jackson
Published in November 2019 - Report of 2018 national survey of UK Heads of GP teaching
HoTs Terms of Reference:
- To provide a national forum for exchange of information and ideas in relation to undergraduate primary care education
- To provide a lobbying function for the interests of undergraduate primary care education
- To share good practice in respect of quality management and enhancement in undergraduate primary care education
- To maintain and enhance the national profile of undergraduate primary care education in the context of higher education and the NHS
- To provide a means of liaison between undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and with groups involved in the education and training of other health professionals working in primary care
- To inform strategic planning of primary care education and training at local and national levels, including support of primary care education research wherever possible.
- To promote good practice in terms of staff development and career progression for teaching academics working in university departments of primary care
- To promote appropriate recognition and reward for service GPs teaching medical students in community settings.
- To maintain networks with GP colleagues in senior academic positions beyond the scope of undergraduate primary care education (eg Deans of medical schools, leaders of national organisations)
- To provide a channel of communication with the SAPC Executive and HoDs Group as well as with RCGP, GMC, MSC, ASME, COGPED,and other national organisations with an interest in medical education and training.
Current HoTs priorities:
- Negotiation with Department of Health regarding a new Tariff for Primary Care Education in England (also relevant to devolved nations)
- Liasion with RCGP, HEE, Medical Schools Council and other bodies regarding developments to undergraduate education
- Promoting GP careers at medical schools
- Encouraging high quality collaborative educatiional research across medical schools
- Using research evidence to brief MPs, Ministers and Parliamentary Committees regarding provision of community-based undergraduate education in medical schools
- Providing a sharing and support network for those with responsibility for undergraduate community-based education in the UK medical schools.
My research interests include decision aids/decision analysis; facilitating decision-making and self-management in general practice with a focus on long term conditions, disadvantaged groups, patient participation and health literacy.
My research is influenced by my clinical practice in inner-city Manchester, and is focused on two NHS priorities - the needs of socio-economically disadvantaged patients and the need for interventions to improve patient self-management in long-term conditions. My research has demonstrated that patients with low health literacy have difficulty in participating in their health care, resulting in poorer health. I am currently PI on an NIHR Programme grant looking at improving patient care in chronic musculoskeletal conditions.
Ben Jackson is a part-time academic GP.
He leads the UoS Academic Primary Care Education team working to better engage students with generalism and general practice as rewarding and challenging disciplines during their studies.
Academic interests include clinical supervision and learning in healthcare settings, health equity in primary care, technology enhanced learning and changes in the structure and skill-mix of general practice teams.
He is co-chair of the UK Heads of GP Teaching committee and co-editor of the Medical School Council Virtual Primary Care platform. He is a founding mamber and has been an active member of the Deep End GP Yorkshire and the Humber network.
