Level 2 Training
What is required to become a Level 2 GP?
To be eligible for Level 2 training, a GP must have full accreditation at Level 1. To achieve full accreditation at Level 1, the GP must have managed a minimum of five patients in the primary care setting for at least one year and have had a successful audit.
Definition
Level 2 doctors are GPs who are trained to offer the full range of treatment services to opiate dependent patients. These services include a full assessment, initiation of treatment where appropriate, stabilising a drug user and maintaining methadone treatment or detoxing a patient in the primary care setting. Inter-GP referral of opiate dependent persons between Level 1 and Level 2 GPs is encouraged.
Training
The Level 2 process has three components:
1. Application to Commence Training
GPs are required to submit an application form to apply for Level 2 training. This application form outlines the required training to be carried out by the GP. The completed form should be returned to the Audit Review Group (ARG), ICGP, 4-5 Lincoln Place, Dublin 2. Once approved by the committee, a mentor can be assigned and the training process can begin. The GP receives a letter stating who their co-ordinator is and that their application has been approved.
2. Training
Training for Level 2 has two elements and runs over 13 clinical sessions:
- An academic module which includes core reading material and 'needs assessment' based learning.
- This will be supported by a log diary.
Each candidate will be provided with a GP mentor who will oversee the needs assessment and the 13 clinical sessions. These take place in a number of different settings, e.g psychiatrist led clinic, visit to in-patient unit, treatment centre/satellite clinic. Following this, a GP may initiate treatment for 5 new patients over a six month period. This must be done in consultation with their GP mentor. If the prescribing GP feels s/he has reached a level of competence and the GP mentor is satisfied that good practice guidelines are being followed, a further five patients may be initiated on treatment in each of the subsequent six month period (up to a maximum of 35 patients). Full Level 2 accreditation is subject to satisfactory audit.
3. Training Checklist
This is filled out by the GP mentor assigned to the GP once training has been completed, and sent into the ICGP by the GP mentor for follow up and audit purposes.
Exemption from Level 2 Training
Doctors who have worked in a clinic setting for a minimum of one year and who wish to participate in the MTP in the primary care setting may have received sufficient training within the HSE clinic setting (for a period of one year or more). These GPs must submit their CV to the ARG (at the above address) detailing previous clinical experience and any evidence of previous training (e.g. doctors who have worked abroad). This application will be considered by the ARG and if experience and training is satisfactory the GP will operate as a Level 1 GP until an audit is performed after six months. Since the clinic doctor will have gained additional clinical experience, they may be able to manage more complex cases than the average Level 1 GP. Such cases can be taken into consideration at the audit. In this initial six month period, the doctor may take up to a maximum of 15 patients pending their audit. If there are gaps identified in training or experience, recommendations may be made on further training before Level 2 status is awarded.
Contact details: GPs who are eligible should contact the clinical audit facilitator at the ICGP for application forms, which are also available to download below.
Documents
Level 2 Application Form
(1.3_Level_2_Training_Application.pdf | 200 KB)