Meet the Bexley VTS Programme Directors

"I am GP Partner in Barnehurst near the centre of Bexley and been a Programme Director since 2019. In fact, I graduated from Bexley VTS in 2009 and have stayed in wonderful Bexley ever since. It has been a pleasure to become a trainer and meet and support future GPs. 

I am keen that as a Bexley VTS trainee you have the appropriate mix of clinical and non-clinical learning available through the VTS. You will be exposed to knowledge of the wider NHS system and benefit from understanding how Primary Care sits at the nexus of physical, mental and population health. I am keen to push opportunities that will allow you to embark on your own leadership journey. The training scheme has grown in size over the years but we maintain that personal and pastoral approach to our trainees as well as delivering all of the above to ensure you are ready for whatever lies in your future career.

I truly believe being a GP is the best job in the world!"

" I am a GP in Lambeth and Educator (Trainer, Appraiser, work for the Professional Support Unit) having qualified from Guildford VTS in 1994. I am lucky enough to be a Bexley Training Program Director since 2009 and watched the scheme almost double in size! However it has retained the benefits of being a small scheme in that we get to know our trainees well and are able to provide personal support and pastoral care, so important in a packed 3year training scheme. 

The protected teaching sessions run on a Wednesday afternoon are an opportunity to address the more meaty parts or the GP curriculum, discuss any issues and catch up with the team. We also organise larger educational events with other local VTS scheme. I have a personal interest in the arts and Humanities and we try to be creative incorporating these to promote GP training and development e.g. We have a scheme book groups and organise visits to the theatre and exhibitions. I am proud to say we have a very high pass rate of qualified GPs and trainee satisfaction."

"I have been a PD since 2004. It is a huge privilege to work with the VTS and Wednesday afternoons with the registrars are often the highlight of my week. Over the decades, our scheme has grown from an annual intake of 4 to 20+ but we have maintained a friendly personal approach to facilitating learning. Our mantra is to equip you with the skills to enjoy life as an independent GP – to retain your compassion but to be pragmatic, to thrive on constant learning and to give and receive support from your practice teams. 

I was a GP partner in Bexleyheath for 28 years and a trainer since 2006 and have just stepped away from Partnership. I do enhanced access sessions for my PCN network and still think that general practice is one of the most satisfying and creative roles in Medicine. I continue to be an appraiser and the Training hub chair for Bexley. I know what it is like to have a varied portfolio career and to balance work and life. 

I relax by watching as much Netflix as possible while running on my treadmill. I’m also trying to widen my culinary repertoire and am almost through most of the recipes in Feast by Mob Kitchen, which I do recommend."