ABSTRACT
There seems little doubt that all doctors completing their voca tional training schemes, and embarking on a career in general practice, have numerous educational needs to meet in the course of their professional practice (Gallen and Buckle, 2001). Before examining how best to do this in the early years after certification, it is helpful to think about the process of the edu cation that immediately precedes it: how can the long-term benefit of vocational training be maximised? Education is a continuum: from medical school through house and SHO posts to the GP registrar year, perhaps extended by enhanced train ing, and on to HPE and the world of continuing professional development in practice.
