If you’ve had a time away from working as a GP, there are a number of programmes to match your circumstances that can help you return to practice.
NHS Education for Scotland, NHS Scotland’s education and training body has full details of the GP returners programme on its Scotland Deanery website. There are a number of schemes to support returning from abroad or after a career break (enhanced induction and returners schemes).
Coming back from abroad
If you’re eligible to live and work in the UK (see Non-uk nationals) and coming back from practising abroad, there may be a number of things you’ll need to do to be eligible to practice in Scotland.
- Eligibility to practice depends on :
A current General Medical Council (GMC) Registration. All doctors intending to practise medicine must be registered with the GMC. To do clinical work you’ll need hold a licence to practice from them too. In addition, GPs need to be on the GP register, unless still in training. (As the name suggests, a certificate of completion of training, or CCT, is needed to demonstrate completion of training.)
2. Being on the Performers list.
Depending on how long you’ve been away and your application, you might not be eligible to get on the performers list immediately. You might then wish to apply to the Scottish Deanery’s returner programme. This is a programme aimed at supporting a safe return to General Practice after career a break of at least two years, or time spent working abroad.
If you’ve been practising abroad but aren’t a UK citizen see “Non-UK nationals” for more information too.
Coming back after a career break
The Scotland GP Returner Programme is for GPs who wish to return to the profession, but have been out of clinical general practice for more than two years. Perhaps you are a GP who is returning from a career break or you’re returning from working outside the UK. Funded by the Scottish Government, financial support is provided to GP’s whilst on the programme. You can find out about the returner programme on the NES Scottish Deanery Website if you’re on (or eligible to be on) the GMC’s GP Register, you could benefit.
If you are looking for flexible working arrangements, the GP retainer scheme might be of interest. This scheme lets you keep your skills current while unable to commit to full time practice.
Coming back from or deferring retirement
Coming back from retirement is an option for an increasing number of GPs. You might feel that you’ve got more to give but no longer wish to be involved in all of the aspects of running a practice. You might not be ready to let medicine go but just don’t want to do it as a full time job. You can have a look at locums available – though if you’ve been out of active practice for more than two years and want to come back longer term, you may be eligible for the returner programme, or in some circumstances and if you’ve been retired for less than two years, the retainer scheme might be of benefit.