ABOUT
About us
We support over 2200 members, Fellows, Associates and Associates in Training in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Dorset, Wiltshire and the Channel Islands. Members whose registered address is within these areas are allocated to Wessex faculty by default. However any member of the College may choose to join any other faculty if they so wish.
The faculty runs an educational programme for GPs at all stages of their career, the trainee element of which is in collaboration with the Wessex Deanery. To support the MRCGP training programme we offer a series of CSA preparation DVDs and case cards to assist trainees in developing their consultation skills (see below for further details).
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In addition to our education programme the faculty hosts a number of social events, including the annual George Swift Lecture, the Faculty Awards evening and the AGM dinner-dance.
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Getting Involved
We rely on members to play an active role locally promoting the College aims and objectives. Members are welcome to attend meetings of the Faculty board as observers and are encouraged to stand for election to the board at the Annual General Meeting held each year in November.
If you would like to find out more about becoming involved with the faculty we would be delighted to hear from you.
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Please contact the faculty office by phone or email if you would like to attend a board meeting as an observer.
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George Swift
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In some ways George Swift was an archetypal GP of the 1960s. He was then a senior GP who was much loved and respected in his community and he cared deeply for his patients and his practice. He worked hard to provide a high standard of personal doctoring. However he also had some special qualities that set him apart from his colleagues of the time.
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He believed passionately that the skills of a good GP could be taught and learnt, as well as acquired by long experience in the job. He also had a genius for organisation which he used to promote this belief: hence his pioneering work with the first Nuffield Vocational Training Scheme, his membership of the Foundation Council of the RCGP and his development of the Wessex vocational training day release course. He went on to be the Regional Adviser in General Practice and helped in the establishment of Postgraduate Medical Centres throughout the region.
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The George Swift Lecture was established to commemorate this outstanding member of the Wessex Faculty and George himself gave the inaugural lecture.
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Further information can be found here.
