Credential in Rural and Remote Health (GMC)
The new Rural and Remote Health Credential, focusing on unscheduled and urgent care, developed in a UK-wide partnership and led by NHS Education for Scotland (NES), will play a pivotal role in ensuring the health and wellbeing of rural communities.
The GMC-approved curriculum and associated educational framework provides a consistent approach to learning and will equip doctors with enhanced skills in leading, delivering and coordinating unscheduled and urgent patient care closer to home.
Credential Award Information
Aims of the Credential
The Credential’s aim is to provide a supportive training framework for doctors practising unscheduled and urgent care in R&R contexts, both in rural and remote hospitals and directly with patients in their community. It will provide a consistent approach to the training of the ‘extended generalist’. The Credential will also support a more flexible career development for doctors, allowing holders of the Credential to change their career direction or enhance their skills and expertise. Most importantly, it will also provide reassurance to people living in rural and remote areas of the UK that, wherever they live, they can expect to receive good and safe care.
The Credential Pathway
Aligned with “Excellence by Design”, the Rural and Remote Health Credential curriculum is outcomes-based. Progression will therefore depend on capability rather than time. Attainment of the competencies may accordingly be achieved at different times depending on clinical placements as well as pre-credential experience and training.
The curriculum will be delivered through a variety of learning experiences and will allow learners to achieve the capabilities required through a variety of learning methods. There will be a balance of different modes of learning from experiential learning ‘on the job’ to more formal courses.
Routes to award of GMC Credential
There are two routes for securing an award of a Credential in Rural and Remote Health (Unscheduled and Urgent Care):
1. The Learner Route
This comprises experiential work-place based learning with some blended learning such as speciality-based placements. The curriculum is outcomes-based. Attainment of the competencies may be achieved at different times depending on pre-credential experience, training, and learning.
2. The Recognition Route
This is an entirely new process for recognising a doctor’s knowledge, skills, and experience. Doctors who can demonstrate they meet the Credential’s outcomes can be awarded the Credential by providing evidence rather than completing the learning pathway.
A workable e-portfolio has been developed and a Turas Learn platform. This will provide all the learning information and content for potential learners and stakeholders, with links to the curriculum and application process. This site will grow as we develop our learning platform.
Further details on the Credential Pathway and how to apply can be found on the Credential Turas Learn site or email nes.ruralremotecredential@nhs.scot