As a learning environment, you have the opportunity to guide and shape our future primary care workforce.
As the NHS transforms to bring care closer to communities through the 10-Year Health Plan, approved learning environments play a vital role in preparing aspiring GPs and multi-professional primary care learners with the skills and confidence to deliver excellent patient care.
Becoming an approved learning environment allows you to attract and retain high-quality staff. Integrating training can drive excellence across your multidisciplinary teams so they are equipped to meet the evolving needs of your community.
As a learning environment, you have the opportunity to lead the way in primary care training. Increasing your training capacity allows you to strengthen your legacy, continuously enhance patient care and foster a culture of continuous learning so your multidisciplinary teams are equipped to meet the evolving needs of your community.
You are needed now more than ever to shape the future of primary care.
“I’ve always enjoyed being involved with medical education, so becoming a GP trainer felt like a natural next step. I liked the idea of sharing my experiences in primary care and hoped it would give me a fresh challenge and add more variety to my working week. It’s about guiding, supporting and learning together. It adds variety to the working week and reminds you why you went into general practice in the first place.”
Dr Tom Farmer, a GP in Bristol
Hear from primary care GP educators working in an approved learning environments
Interested in becoming an approved learning environment but want to know more about how it works in practice? Read our case studies to discover the benefits for you, your service and patients.
Find out more about the requirements for becoming an approved learning environment in the South West below:
- applying to become an approved learning environment
- resources and guidance for becoming an approved learning environment
- approved learning environment frequently asked questions
- guidance on maintaining your approved learning environment status
Becoming an approved learning environment in the South West
Becoming an approved learning environment allows you to:
- attract and retain high-quality staff
- create a culture of continuous learning across your team
- guide excellence across your multidisciplinary teams
- contribute directly to solving primary care workforce challenges
- shape the future of primary care training in your community
Resident doctors and healthcare learners bring fresh perspectives, additional clinical capacity and specialist skills from recent rotations. Many practices find that hosting learners improves team morale and identifies opportunities for practice improvements.
We have simplified the approval process to make it easier for practices and Primary Care Networks (PCN) to get started. Instead of multiple separate approvals for different learner groups, a single approval and subsequent annual return covers your Learning Organisation for all multi-professional learners.
Approval can be granted to:
- Individual GP practices
- Primary Care Networks (PCN footprint)
This streamlined approach reduces the number of approval visits and audits required whilst ensuring high-quality learning experiences for all learners.
Watch our video to hear from practices and stakeholders about their experience of the approval process.
Your local Training Hub provides comprehensive support throughout the approval process. They will help you:
- understand the requirements
- complete your application
- prepare for the approval panel visit
- address any areas for improvement
Contact Us
If you have any questions about becoming an approved learning environment, email the Training Hub Quality team at england.traininghubquality.sw@nhs.net
Local Training Hubs
Local contacts:
- Bristol North Somerset and South Gloucestershire: bnssg.training.hub@nhs.net
- Bath Swindon and Wiltshire: bswicb.traininghub@nhs.net
- Cornwall: kernowhealthcic.workforce@nhs.net
- Devon: devon.traininghub@nhs.net
- Gloucestershire: glccg.pcwc@nhs.net
- Somerset: somersetlmc.office@nhs.net
- Please note Dorset Training Hub is currently aligned to the South East for this work.