Half Day Closures for Staff Training
The Practice has training events for all staff where the Surgery closes from 12 noon on Wednesday once per month. These are as follows:
- 25th April 2018
- 16th May 2018
- 20th June 2018
- 18th July 2018
- 19th September
- 17th October 2018
- 14th November 2018
- 16th January 2019
- 27th February 2019
- 20th March 2019
If you need a Doctor on these training afternoons please telephone 111.
Why does the practice close, is this really necessary?
The surgery closes for one afternoon on 10 months of the year. This enables the clinical and admin team to attend vital training and updates. This happens across all practices in Wakefield (and in fact most of the country). Without this protected time to learn, clinical staff would not have the opportunity to attend vital updates as part of their training.
Do all practices do this?
Yes, all Wakefield practices close on the same day. The clinical teams meet at a central location to receive training by specialist speakers such as hospital consultants and clinical leads.
What do staff learn about?
Throughout the year the topics cover many key clinical subjects relevant to the health care needs of Wakefield. These include cancer, dementia, mental health, respiratory disease, dermatology, musculoskeletal conditions, end of life care, and cardiology etc. Nursing staff sometimes join the GPs or have their own specialist training on subjects such as long term conditions management, wound care, infection control and vaccinations/immunisations. Office and reception staff sometimes attend centrally run training courses too, or they remain in the practice and have training with the practice manager or with specialist trainers the surgery brings in.
Can the training be carried out during surgery time?
Training is organised centrally so that it includes all surgeries across Wakefield at the same time. Surgeries ensure that when planning routine appointments the half day protected training is taken into consideration. The disruption to patient is minimal. Closing the surgery ensures that all staff can attend these sessions.
What GP cover is in place for these days, what if I need a doctor?
GP cover for any matters that cannot wait until the next day is provided by the NHS 111. Out of hours doctors from outside the area are on call via the 111 service. Any life threatening incidents should be dealt with through 999, as patients would normally. Patients are reminded that the GP surgery is not an emergency service.
Is this new?
No, the half day closures have been happening for many years.