Introduction to Cornwall - Kernow Health | Keeping General Practice at the heart of patient care

Our scheme

This scheme offers the chance for GPs to benefit from a contribution towards their accommodation cost in return for a minimum of 4 paid sessions at practices across Cornwall. In Summer 2019, 14 sessions were worked as part of this scheme by locum GPs from as far away as Canada, supporting practices in Cornwall to cover their vacant shifts.

Please see below the terms and conditions for this scheme, and contact us for further details. Please note – the scheme is paused for 2020 due to travel restrictions associated with Covid-19, but we hope to progress applications for 2021 as soon as possible.

Email kernowhealthcic.workforce@nhs.net

Terms and Conditions

We operate this scheme through our digital staff bank platform Lantum. Please note you will need to ensure the following information is available and in date;

Copy of CV
ID- Passport/Driving Licence (both if available)
DBS check (note this must be dated within the last 3 years)
GMC membership- current registration
Confirmation you are on the England performers list
Your Immunisation record
References- 2 contacts we may approach via e-mail or signed written references
Confirmation of indemnity (for work not covered under the GP contract)
Any restrictions on practice

This must be provided upon application and this information will also be reviewed by the individual practice/s the locum shifts will be worked at. If there are any outstanding concerns on the GMC database, we would not be able to progress your application under this scheme.

Please provide your full name with which you are listed on the NHSE Performers list, this will also be checked to progress the application.

Please note:
You cannot be currently working for a practice within Cornwall.
You must not already be regularly working in Cornwall as a locum.
You must not currently be a resident within Cornwall.

Cornwall Training Hub, hosted by Kernow Health CIC, will reimburse you for 25% of your holiday accommodation cost up to a maximum of £500 per week. A maximum of 2 weeks will be offered to any one individual for 8 sessions. You must supply to Cornwall Training Hub a copy of the confirmation of booking and /or invoice for your accommodation cost.

The funding is dependent on your agreement to fulfill 4 GP sessions in any one week of your holiday period, within a GP practice in Cornwall, as outlined in your application form. The funding will be reimbursed to you upon the completion of the sessions along with the payment for the four sessions.

We will advertise your availability across a practical geography, within 25 miles of your holiday accommodation. Where there is not a practice within this radius we will liaise with you. If you have not set your accommodation, we will advertise your availability to the areas outlined in your application form. The sessions must be booked by a practice through Kernow Health CIC.

Every step will be taken to match you to a practice within a timely period prior to your arriving in Cornwall. If for any reason we are unable to offer you the four sessions, unfortunately we are unable to reimburse you any of your holiday accommodation.

Full details of the practice will be given to you upon confirmation of your sessions, including a contact name, full address and directions, details of the clinical system and any locum handbook where available.

"We have had such a lovely time here in Cornwall and really appreciate all your help in arranging the clinics. The Trescobeas and Stennack practices were a pleasure to work at. The staff and the patients were all so lovely and would love to return to work in Cornwall in the future if any roles became available. In October we move to Australia for 2-3 years but will be returning for 2-4 weeks every summer. This experience has helped us decide that we definitely want to return and work in Cornwall when my son starts pre school in 2-3 years. I would love to keep in touch if possible about any roles becoming available in the future."

Dr David Sutcliffe- Summer 2019

"Had a really great time at some lovely surgeries and definitely helped in my decision to relocate to Cornwall with my family"

Dr David Cartland- Summer 2019

"Having found the scheme for holiday locum GP's in Cornwall quite late in the year, I was impressed by the efficiency and clarity with which locum work was organised. I was offered 2 weeks of work but was only able to get accommodation for one of them, my fault for leaving things so late! I was allocated work at 2 lovely practices where I was well looked after and everybody was very supportive even made me cups of tea. Even though it was the week after the bank holiday I was not over stretched and staff at both practices were happy to help with queries and issues relating to " local knowledge" I am definitely up for a repeat next year, in fact I have already applied"

Dr David Miller- Summer 2019