PGPPP

The Prevocational General Practice Placement Program (PGPPP) is an initiative designed to give junior hospital doctors an opportunity to undertake a term in General Practice as part of their normal hospital rotations. This term is usually undertaken during the RMO1 year as one of their 10 or 11 week rotations.

The program in primarily designed to give RMOs, who have not yet made their choice about which area of medicine they wish to pursue, an opportunity to work in General Practice and see first hand what this branch of medicine is like. General Practice is the largest single discipline within medicine and the most popular choice for postgraduate practice. Doctors working in the hospital system during their internship and RMO years have the opportunity to work in most hospital based disciplines in medicine but, until this program, have had no opportunity to work in General Practice.

A PGPPP placement can also be a valuable experience for RMOs who have decided on a career in a different area of medicine as it can provide them with a valuable opportunity to learn first hand about General Practice and the primary health care system in Australia.

The PGPPP is in its early stages in NSW. Hunter New England Health currently has one PGPPP post based in Tamworth which is available as an RMO1 rotation for HNEH RMOs. We anticipate that additional posts will become available in the Hunter area (with HNEH) and on the Central Coast (with Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service) in the near future. Check with the HNEH JMO Unit and NSCCAHS JMO Unit about the options available to you.

General Practice Training – Valley to Coast will co-ordinate the PGPPP in this region. Placements will be in practices that are already accredited for GP registrar training. General Practice Training – Valley to Coast will provide additional educational support for the RMOs during their PGPPP placement.