The DH in England has today submitted an NHS Employers’ report on trainee doctors' contracts to the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body (DDRB).

One recommendation made by that report was for GP trainees to move to a ‘single lead employer arrangement’ - which would mean that one body, such as a PCT, would act as a GP trainee’s employer, rather than hospitals and training practices.

The report said: ‘It was noted that in such an arrangement, employment would be kept separate from the educational process, and many saw this as an advantage, separating the responsibilities of the employer from that of the trainee, and allowing both trainer and trainee to focus on training.

GPC deputy chairman Dr Richard Vautrey said the change could be beneficial for training practices. ‘I think it would ensure that, whilst the day-to-day arrangements involved in employing a trainee would continue, the practice wouldn’t have to take on the responsibility of the more technical aspects of human resources (HR).

‘It may also reduce the paperwork and bureaucracy involved in training,’ he added.

However, despite seeing the possible benefits for training practices, Dr Vautrey said there was still some uncertainty around who would become the ‘lead employer’ for GP trainees once PCTs are abolished in April 2013.

Dr Vautrey said the role could fall to ‘anybody who has a big enough HR department’, including local education training boards, clinical commissioning group networks or NHS Commissioning Board local area teams.