ABSTRACT
Higher professional education (HPE) was introduced in October 2001 in response to requests from the profession to cater for the needs of newly qualified general practitioners (GPs). In essence, HPE is the provision of 20 days of education, with locum costs, and a small contribution to course fees. It is applic able in the first year after a doctor has finished the vocational training scheme. The profession had clearly hoped that funding would be for 20 days per year for the first two years after voca tional training, but has had to accept a pragmatic solution in the current economic climate.
