Performers Lists – need to get a wiggle on

26th January 2017 by NASGP

Performers Lists – need to get a wiggle on

You’d think with GP recruitment and retention as it is at the moment that NHS England would be a little more slick in processing new applicants to its performers lists. But judging from comments from members about their Performers List experiences, you’d be wrong.

As one of our commentators said “The biggest issue is the inaccurate, poorly drafted and misleading application form.”

So today, we’ve published a new Frequently Asked Question for our members on how to speed up the process, circumventing some or all of the subsequent delays, and even producing a covering letter template to really help get things moving, and getting more GPs into do surgeries and seeing patients.

Can I speed up my Performers List application?

After nine painful weeks of going through the process of joining the Performer’s list, NASGP member Dr Mark de Kretser gives a helpful rundown of how to get through the application process.

Mark provides some hints and tips, many of which we hope will avoid you having to discover the same many weeks into your application.

  1. The application form/guidance makes no mention of a face-to-face meeting to provide original documents and check ID or how or when to arrange this. This is best done once you have all the required documents ready and can be arranged by ringing your local Area Team (see NHS England National Performers List website for details).
  2. The application states that a DBS certificate should be provided, and links to the the DBS website which then states that individuals cannot apply for one. But in fact you can, and even use NHS England as a sponsor.
  3. The application form states that Level 3 child protection training is mandatory but implies that adult safeguarding and BLS training are not. This is completely incorrect – all three are now mandatory. To avoid being told this several weeks into the process, or worse still after your face-to-face meeting, we suggest including all evidence for this in your covering letter.
  4. You need to take a printed copy of the application form to your face-to-face meeting, as the form may not print properly and has boxes that won’t accept a tick or cross. This is a known issue, so we recommend you just print out as best you can and use a pen to check incomplete boxes.
  5. There is no mention anywhere of needing to provide a copy of original medical degree, but this is required. Again, add this to your covering letter.
  6. The English language requirements section implies that unless you have a degree from a UK medical school you would have do IELTS, even despite being on a Scottish list or having been on the English list previously. Fortunately they should accept your JCPTGP certificate of equivalent experience.
  7. Although not stated, if a reference is to be supplied by email it must only come from an nhs.net email address unless they have the applicant’s written permission – other email addresses are not considered secure.

We’ve provided this useful template for a covering letter.

National Performers List covering letter

Download – Word Save as – Google Doc

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