ABSTRACT
The general practitioners and nurses within the practice almost always meet their professional training obligations, but the practice needs to plan for, encourage and support ancillary staff training, both financially and strategically, at all levels within the organisation. The process needs adapting where appropriate to meet the needs of individuals, not just the organisation. An organisation that did little training and development would have far greater difficulty in convincing employees of the seriousness of its commitment. A training policy shows an organisation is modern, organised and capable: it demonstrates that they have considered and managed risk, and thus is one route of effective defence against litigation. A learning organisation continually transforms itself. One of the biggest advantages of self-managed learning is that it is an aid to improve and develop team working in general practice, as it is an organisation small enough to be able to organise itself in this way.
