ABSTRACT
The concept of higher professional education (HPE) for newly qualified general practitioners (GPs) has been established for a number of years. HPE may be considered as the provision of additional support to help newly qualified GPs in their transition from GP Registrar to established independent practice as a GP. By the early 1990s it had become apparent that GPs were expected to fulfil an expanding role in the NHS. They needed to be adequately equipped for this new kind of job and it was realised that the basic three-year programme of GP vocational training could not be sufficient for the modern day GP. In strategic terms, HPE is of importance for both the recruitment and retention of competent GPs in the new NHS. The HPE team facilitates delivery of HPE to new GPs, and locality programme development and delivery is the responsibility of programme directors. They are appointed and managed by the deanery.
