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Trainers and trainees joined forces to complain that the new exam - compulsory for all new GPs - is workload heavy and that the number of assessments detracts from training opportunities.

Dr Paul Lockie, from the Scottish conference of LMCs, said that of the three components of the new MRCGP, the workplace-based assessment has most changed the learning experience.

A registrar in the training year must undertake 12 case-based discussions, 12 consultation observations, two cycles of multi-source feedback and a patient satisfaction survey.

At the same time, training practices are under-resourced to fund the role.
 
‘It's interesting that NHS Education Scotland gives £15,000 to dental practices with a dental trainee. That same organisation pays my training practice just over half that amount,' Dr Lockie said.

He accused the RCGP of taking advantage of an unpaid workforce of examiners.

‘It's clear that trainers have been pushed from a mentoring role to examiner in workplace based assessment,' he said.

Dr Andrew Perry from the GP trainees' subcommittee agreed: ‘We must make sure it becomes a quality not a quantity exercise.'

prisca.middlemiss@haymarket.com