The Tayside Centre for General Practice (TCGP) is a multi-disciplinary association of primary care clinicians, researchers and educators established in 1992. Located on the campus of Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in Dundee within the Mackenzie Building it unifies general practice educators (undergraduate, PG training and Professional Development) with primary care researchers (eHealth and Quality improvement in particular). It has an important role in building links with the primary care community in Tayside and beyond.
This section provides a general overview of the activities within TCGP and relevant links. We have dedicated sections on Undergraduate and Postgraduate teaching, Professional Development and each research group.
TCGP was formed at a time when the healthcare system in the UK was placing a greater emphasis on community based care, and the NHS reforms had seen wide ranging changes in the organisation of patient care services. One key and highly innovative aspect of TCGP has been the integration of health service and academic staff which has given us a unique identity and purpose. The value of TCGP is therefore in its ability to support and optimise productivity in:
- Undergraduate teaching in primary care and general practice
- General practice and foundation training
- Primary care and associated research
- Other postgraduate education, including MSc, CPD and higher degrees
- Career support and opportunities for those interested in developing academic special interests
- Support for local general practices and NHS Tayside.
The building has a free access-controlled car park for staff use and for those attending meetings.
Mackenzie General Practice
Sir James Mackenzie
Born April 12, 1853, Scone, Perthshire, Scot.
Died Jan. 26, 1925, London, Eng.
Scottish GP and Cardiologist
Mackenzie undertook an apprenticeship in a pharmacy in Perth before taking his M.D. from the University of Edinburgh and practiced medicine in Burnley for 25 years before moving to Harley Street. His classic The Study of the Pulse (1902) described an instrument called a polygraph, which simultaneously recorded arterial and venous pulses so that they could be correlated with the heartbeat to distinguish harmless from dangerous irregularities. A pioneer in the study of cardiac arrhythmia, he also proved the efficacy of digitalis for its treatment. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in1915 and initiated the first general practice research group on the Scores in St Andrews in 1918. Three university chairs of General Practice and one of Public Health are named in his honour.
Postgraduate Education
General Practice Training for Scotland is managed and delivered by NHS Education for Scotland. Recruitment information can be found at www.scotmt.scot.nhs.uk.
TCGP Affiliated Units
Scottish School of Primary Care
The Scottish School of Primary Care (SSPC) was founded in 2000 and is a consortium of 9 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs currently managed from offices in the Division of Clinical & Population Sciences & Education in the University of Dundee and the Director is Professor Frank Sullivan. SSPC is funded by the Scottish Government's Health Directorate, NHS Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council.
The prime focus of the SSPC is the conduct of internationally recognised, methodologically rigorous research in primary health care. The consortium has identified that the best way to develop this capability is through three inter-linked work streams:
- Work stream A to develop programmes of internationally recognised, methodologically rigorous research which address important issues in Scotland and beyond
- Work stream B to increase recruitment to trials and other methodologically rigorous research
- Work stream C to ensure higher level career development opportunities
Scottish Primary Care Research Network
The Scottish Primary Care Research Network (SPCRN) was established in 2002 as a framework to co-ordinate national research activity in primary care. SPCRN is funded by the Chief Scientist Office, centrally managed by the Scottish School of Primary Care (SSPC) and operationally managed at a regional level by the four nodes based in the North, East, South East and West of Scotland. Each SPCRN node has a coordinator who can
- provide contact between the researcher and primary care professionals;
- help researchers to recruit practices and professionals;
- provide local troubleshooting assistance where necessary;
- provide advice on study protocols and feasibility in primary care;
- calculate service support costs and organises reimbursement of health care
- professional time involved in research.
For more information about SSPC and SPCRN, please follow the link to the SSPC website
Professional Development Academy
Please follow the link to the Scottish School of Primary Care website where you will find more information about the Professional Development Academy
Royal College for General Practitioners
The East Scotland Faculty supports over 350 Members, Fellows and Associates of the College in Tayside and North Fife. The Faculty aims to promote the College and provide a comprehensive service for members. This is achieved by providing a varied educational programme and making personal contact with members. The work of the Faculty is led by an elected Faculty Board. The Faculty Board discuss matters which are relevant to general practice, both locally and nationally, and feedback members' views through our representatives on College Council. The key activities include running educational events, providing opportunities for networking and organising awards and prizes locally'.
Please follow the link to the Royal College of General Practitioners website then the link to the East Scotland Faculty page.
TCGP Teaching Staff
- Head of Undergraduate Education - Dr Mairi Scott
- GPPC: Dr Kevin McConville & Dr Fiona Muir
- Phase 3: Dr Susan Law, Dr Neil Merrylees & Dr Penny Lockwood
- Phase 3 Extended Attachments: Dr Penny Lockwood
- Communication Skills: Dr Mairi Scott & Dr Rob Jarvis
- 4th year projects & BMSc: Dr Julian Davis
- Assessment: Dr Sharon Coull
- Enquiries: Tel: 01382 383800