General Practitioners: Assessments

(asked on 11th May 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to hold discussions with representatives of the Royal College of General Practitioners in respect of the cancellation of the (a) applied knowledge test and (b) clinical skills assessment as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.


Answered by
Jo Churchill Portrait
Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 19th May 2020

The Department is working closely with the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the four statutory education bodies to support development of solution for trainees who have had their examinations cancelled as a result of COVID-19.

The RCGP is working with its testing partner to enable the Applied Knowledge Test to resume at test centres with appropriate social distancing safeguards in place from July and are investigating options for remote invigilation for those who are shielding.

The RCGP and GP training educators are rapidly developing a temporary recorded alternative to the Clinical Skills Assessment (subject to approval by the General Medical Council).

The RCGP has committed to continue to share details of the developments with affected trainees as they progress.

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