Is it possible to work as a GDMO in the reserves whilst pursuing specialty training in the NHS?

Hello,

So if you join as a regular, you spend the first few years as a GDMO, both working in the primary care setting and providing pre hospital emergency care when on exercise or deployed. There are GDMOs who also provide medical cover for events/sports, but until you are fully qualified (a consultant or GP) you will need supervision (can be remote) whenever you practice medicine.

You can also join as a reserve, most reservists I have met are in specialty training or qualified. I am not sure how it works in terms of exercises/deployments for reservists, I would guess they deploy as a GDMO equivalent with a named supervisor, but it is worth remembering if you are in training with the NHS, you will need to take a significant amount of time out of your training programme in order to complete all the required pre-deployment courses and go on the exercise/deployment itself.

I guess it depends which option would fit in with your career aspirations best. Military GP is a good way to continue PHC alongside PHEC, and GDMO will give you an idea of that career might look like, plus it is great fun! The main downside is it will be 2-3 years delay in starting specialty training, and you do need to be flexible on location during that time.

I hope that helps answer your question, and you are right, the application process takes a year or so, I applied at the end of FY1, but in hindsight even that felt rushed, so the earlier the better!