Research Paper - (2004) Volume 12, Issue 1
Charnwood and NorthWest Leicestershire Primary Care Trust (PCT) was established in April 2002 following the merger of three primary care groups (PCGs). An evaluation of protected learning time (PLT) was undertaken to enable the PCT to ‘takestock’ of the three former schemes before embarking upon a PCT-wide programme. This paper will share the Ž findings from part of this evaluation, the semi-structured interviews. Nineteen staff participated in a semi-structured interview, which incorporatedadministration, a general practitioner (GP), practice nurse, practice manager, manager and community nursing sta¡. Key Ž ndings included PLT being viewed as an in-house general practice based learning and as a multipractice event, accesswas generally good as practices were supportive of PLT. The relevance of PLT was mixed with clinical staff viewing the sessions in a more positive light than administration staff. The successes of PLT were seen to be information giving, networking opportunities in particular cohesion among similar staff groups, i.e. practice managers. Staff identified specific examples of things they were able to take away and implement into practice. Suggestions for future PLT sessions were identiŽ ed which included the arrangements, the functioning of the PLT committee and wider issues for the PCT/trust board to consider. The semi-structured interviews formed part of an evaluation to re? ect upon PLT in the former PCGs. They have proven to be informative and will enable the PCT to make an informed choice as to the future planning and delivery of PLT.
