GP registrars committee

The GP registrars committee represents all doctors across the four nations of the UK on a GP training programme, including BMA members and non-members, while working in primary care.

Our priorities

GP Registrar Handbook

The GP Registrars Handbook is a practical reference guide developed to support GP registrars working in GP practice settings.

Initiated by GPRC members during the 2023–24 session, this resource has since been developed by the current committee, with contributions and review from members across all four nations and relevant BMA teams, including legal advisors.

How to use this handbook

The handbook is designed to:

• Serve as a repository collection of essential contractual rules affecting GP Registrars.
• Help Registrars understand what to expect and what they are entitled to under their contract.
• Empower Registrars to assert their rights and ensure fair treatment in the workplace. 

Please note: This handbook is not intended to be exhaustive or educational in nature. Its focus is specifically on the contractual aspects of GP placements, in line with GPRC’s remit. It does not provide guidance on fulfilling educational requirements.

GP Unemployment 

GPs have never been in higher demand, yet qualified GPs are struggling to find jobs. This is undermining the years of effort and investment GPs have put into their professional development. With 1 in 5 GPs planning a career change, at least 25% of GPs not taking up a substantive role within the first 5 years of qualifying, we believe that this is an unsustainable situation, representing a monumental waste of skills and money. 

The BMA GP registrars’ committee is actively working with GPC to lobby the government to ring fence funding for hiring GPs and to increase core general practice funding with the aim of increasing the ability of practices to hire qualified GPs. We firmly believe the most effective primary care is delivered by trained general practitioners as detailed in GPC UK’s publication, The Value of a GP. 

Pay and Exception Reporting Reforms 

GPRC is actively engaging with our Resident Doctor Committee (RDC UK) to ensure GP registrars are fully represented in ongoing pay campaigns. This includes:

• working to protect and maintain the value of the flexible pay premia, ensuring it continues to rise in line with broader pay increases.
• shaping upcoming reforms to the exception reporting process. to ensure GP registrars can claim time back for actual work undertaken, missed educational sessions, and portfolio activities. These reforms must not disadvantage GP registrars or place undue pressure on training practices.  
• minimising the potential for confidentiality breaches and conflicts of interest, which can be more challenging for  sole GP registrars in a training practices compared to resident doctors in hospital posts. Our goal is to promote a broader cultural shift that values exception reporting as a vital tool for transparency and safeguarding training time.

Read the latest about our campaign for pay restoration.

Supporting the campaign for Full Pay Restoration

The real-terms pay erosion that you continue to endure is placing an unprecedented strain on you, exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis and the Government’s failure to recognise your value. You are not worth less than your predecessors in 2008.

We continue to support the campaign for full pay restoration alongside UKRDC and stand by all GP registrars as we take industrial action in England and Wales.

Read the latest on our campaign for pay restoration.

Blended learning 

NHS England plans to roll out a new ‘blended learning’ model for GP training from August 2025, combining online modules with reduced patient contact. While flexibility and digital tools have value, direct patient care is essential for developing the core skills of general practice.

This shift could further compromise training quality, and with the already short three-year programme, trainees may not be fully aware of the trade-offs involved. GPRC continues to advocate for more time in general practice, not less, and will work to ensure that any changes maintain the highest standards of training. 

Please share your experiences of blended learning here or reach out to us with your concerns via email. 

Time out of training (TOOT)

Issues with implementing the national time-out of training guidance continue where it assumes the registrar will require an extension solely due to missed time, directing the panel towards an extension as the standard approach. However, as completion of GP training is competency rather than time-based, it is incorrect to assume that the time missed will require an extension of training.

COPMED/COGPED clarified this at its December 2023 meeting, as follows: “Where a review of the TOOT by the ARCP panel is triggered, this does not automatically require an extension to be applied. Providing that progress is satisfactory or if, at the point of planned CCT, all competencies have been met, a standard ARCP outcome can be awarded. TOOT in isolation is not an indication to extend the CCT date. The ARCP panel needs to consider each case individually, depending on broader evidence of competency acquisition”.  

We are supporting any registrars who are experiencing issues related to TOOT, in line with the above. If you have any concerns about TOOT, please get in touch with the GPRC. 

MRCGP examinations (AKT & SCA)

We continue to work closely with the RCGP to monitor changes to examination formats and their impact on registrars. Concessions have been secured to ensure GP registrars who experience significant disruptions during their examinations are supported through station re-runs and/or re-sits where appropriate. We believe the cost of the SCA should mean that candidates are examined fairly and without undue dysfunction, either as a consequence of IT dysfunction or personnel unprofessionalism. 

We understand that the RCGP is currently implementing a significant change to the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) meaning  a reduction in the number of questions and time allotted for the examination [link]. Although we welcome RCGP’s efforts to improve the capacity to cater to candidates requiring reasonable adjustments, there are also changes to how AKT results will now be analysed, from the previously implemented Classical Test Theory (CTT) to Item Response Theory (IRT). We will continue to closely monitor this situation to ensure it does not significantly impact GP registrars. If you have any concerns about any examinations, you may have sat, please email the BMA GP registrars’ committee at gpregistrars@bma.org.uk.

RCGP membership and portfolio

Discussions continue with RCGP about their WBPA terminology and whether language surrounding this can be modified going forward. This is an ongoing priority, and we will continue to flag any further issues associated with RCGP membership and the portfolio. 

Please note that your college membership is a tax-deductible expense (as is your BMA membership) and can be claimed as such.  

Get in touch if you are concerned with your RCGP membership or the use of the Fourteen Fish portfolio.

IMG visas and immigration

We are working hard with RCGP and government stakeholders to address critical issues surrounding International Medical Graduate (IMG) visas, sponsorship, and Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK. .

IMG colleagues are a vital part of our workforce and we are committed to driving positive change. Updates on this will be shared with you as the situation evolves. 

Self-directed learning (SDL) time

The GPRC and RCGP support self-development time for general practice registrars in non-general practice posts. According to the Guide to a Working Week, general practice registrars are entitled to four hours of self-development time in general practice posts.

All resident doctors should be having two to four hours of self-development time while working in non-general practice posts on a GP training programme and we have written to all Local Negotiating Committees (LNCs) and Industrial Relations Officers (IROs), urging that this time be clearly included in GP registrar work schedules. We encourage all registrars to contact their LNCs, Resident Doctor Committee (RDC UK) representatives and/or IROs if they require any support with this. 

Multi-source feedback (MSF) 

We want to remind GP registrars and educators that multi-source feedback (MSF) should reflect a broad and accurate picture of the working environment. Feedback can and should be sought from any grade of doctor you work closely with, not just those ST4 and above.  

According to the RCGP, multi-source feedback responses should be ‘representative of the wider team’, including responses from at least five clinicians and five non-clinicians. There is no requirement that these clinicians must be ST4 and above. This seniority requirement applies only to specific WPBAs, namely mini-CEX, CEPS, and CbDs.

Including feedback from colleagues across all levels helps ensure a more comprehensive, fair, and representative assessment of your clinical practice and teamworking. 

Travel expenses

Version 9 of the Terms and Conditions for doctors in training in England was published in April 2021. This clarified the provision allowing GP registrars that are required to use their personal vehicle for home visits to claim home to practice mileage and any associated travel costs, such as tolls. This was a significant improvement negotiated as part of the 2018 Resident Doctor Contract review. The ability to claim the home visit itself remained unchanged. Some employers are placing arbitrary caps on the number of claims registrars can claim, and we would urge any such instances to be raised with BMA.

More on travel expenses for doctors

GP registrar indemnity

GP registrars in England no longer need to purchase additional personal indemnity, under agreements secured by the BMA. Under the scheme, all GP registrars placed in GP settings for training purposes will automatically be covered for clinical negligence liabilities – no payments are required to benefit from the indemnity provided. Comprehensive personal indemnity cover for all GP registrars will be funded by HEE until qualification. Where a registrar's personal protection is currently provided by a medical defence organisation through a bulk-indemnity agreement, this will continue. Private work outside training, such as sports medicine/cosmetic procedures, requires separate indemnity, as do services that involve fee-payments for non-registered patients, e.g. private clinics/event medicine. 

In Scotland, as an employee of NHS Education for Scotland (NES), your indemnity will be provided by CNORIS for the duration of GP training. However, there are other professional activities which may not be covered by CNORIS. When GP registrars work in a hospital setting, they are normally covered by the NHS Hospital and Community Health Services indemnity against claims of medical negligence. You may not be covered by the indemnity for certain circumstances, for example, providing services for which you receive a separate fee. 

GP registrars within Northern Ireland need to organise their own indemnity through their local Medical Defence Organisation (MDO), for both GPST2 and GPST3, and claim back this expenditure from NIMDTA. It is important when discussing with your MDO you highlight Northern Ireland as your base, this ensures your cover will be correct, as registrars in Northern Ireland are not covered by Crown Indemnity. It is also strongly recommended that additional MDO cover be obtained for broader protection, including disciplinary proceedings and coroners’ inquests.    

As part of their training, GP registrars in Wales now have part of their indemnity relating to civil claims made as a result of their work within their NHS training duties. This cover is provided by the Welsh Risk Pool General Medical Practice Indemnity Scheme. GP registrars will still need to obtain personal indemnity whilst outlining to such indemnifiers that they are employed under the Lead Employer for GP registrars in Wales and as such receive some indemnity cover via the Welsh Risk Pool. These remaining personal indemnity costs (e.g. for criminal proceedings, Good Samaritan) can be claimed back under expenses (via the Sea e-expenses system) from the single lead employer when a GP registrar is on a GP placement (i.e. not when working in hospital placements). 

You can find out more about indemnity in all four nations here. 

Study Leave for GP Registrars in England

The GPRC is aware of issues surrounding access to study leave budget in England. NHS England has assured us that GP Registrars should not be treated differently from other resident doctors. We would like to have a better idea of the scope of the problem. Please complete the linked survey to share your experiences around study leave and accessing study budgets. Your responses will be used to guide our lobbying activities.  

Our people

Co-Chair: Cheska Ball
Co-Chair: Victoria McKay

Co-Deputy Chair: James Mossom
Co-Deputy Chair: Oliver Salazar

Associated committees

GPC UK
GPC England
GPC Northern Ireland
GPC Scotland
GPC Wales
Sessional GPs Committee
LMCs
UK resident doctors committee,
Northern Ireland resident doctors committee
Scottish resident doctors committee
Welsh resident doctors committee
Resident members forum

The GP Registrars committee will be attending relevant conferences.

Our meetings

The GP Registrars committee meets four times a year to discuss the issues that affect you. These meetings are open to committee members only.

Meeting dates:

• Wednesday 10 September 2025- Induction session (hybrid)
• Thursday 11 September 2025 (hybrid)
• Wednesday 26 November 2025
• Thursday 19 March 2026
• Thursday 4 June 2026

GPRC Executive meeting dates:

• Monday 6 October 2025
• Monday 26 January 2026
• Monday 27 April 2026
• Wednesday 24 June 2026

For more information please email gpregistrars@bma.org.uk

How to join

There are many advantages to becoming involved in our committees. You can actively influence BMA policy-making and negotiations, represent your colleagues' voices and develop your leadership skills. 

Each committee has a few routes to becoming an elected member. In the case of the GP Registrars committee, this is: 

The election section below is kept up to date with details about any running elections, so make sure you keep checking it throughout the year.  

Elections

GPRC is looking to elect regional representatives for a two-session term 2025-2027 (unless candidates complete their GP training within the first year).

Seats available

1 seat from the following the regions:

• Scotland West
• Scotland South East
• Eastern
• London North East & Central
• Mersey (Mersey Deanery region of North West LETB)
• Peninsula (Peninsula Deanery region of South West LETB)
• Severn
• Thames Valley
• Wessex
• Yorkshire

Eligibility 

To stand for election you must be a BMA member.

In recognition of the fact that regional elections must be held prior to the beginning of the GP training year, doctors may stand for election to the GP registrars committee provided they are:

• on a GP training programme at the time of nomination (8 July 2025) that will not finish before the September (2025) after the date of election, or
• have, at the date of nomination (8 July 2025), a confirmed place on a GP training programme that will commence during the forthcoming session. Doctors may only stand for election in the region in which they are training (or will commence GP training).

Nominations 

Open: 12 noon Tuesday 8 July 2025
Close: 12 noon Tuesday 22 July 2025

Voting

Opens: 12 noon Wednesday 23 July 2025
Closes: 12 noon Wednesday 6 August 2025

Results

Results will be published shortly after voting closes.

Additional information

See the BMA Committee Elections page for more information on how BMA elections are run and to access the elections portal.

Please email elections@bma.org.uk if you are practising in a different region to where you are listed on the member register.

In order to ensure election notifications are received by email, you must make sure the BMA has your correct contact information –you can do this by logging-in and checking your details.

Get in touch