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List of Approved Practice Settings

Introduction

Published below is the list of NHS organisations which have been granted Approved Practice Setting (APS) status. An APS is an organisation that has systems for the effective management of doctors, systems for identifying and acting upon concerns about doctors’ fitness to practise, systems to support the provision of relevant training or continuing professional development, and systems for providing regulatory assurance. International Medical Graduates (IMGs), newly qualified UK Graduates (UKGs) and medical practitioners returning to practice after five years’ absence are required to work in an APS for a period of at least twelve months. We strongly advise EEA graduates to ensure they too work in an APS when they first take up employment in the UK under full registration. We also advise EEA doctors restored to the register after prolonged absence from UK practice to work initially in an APS.

Primary Care Organisations

Please note that all Primary Care organisations (Primary Care Trusts in England, Area Health Boards in Scotland, Local Health Boards in Wales and Health and Social Services Boards or Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland) are automatically granted APS status, but only for the purpose of undertaking managed training; that is Foundation Programme training, or training as a GP Registrar. They are therefore not included in our online list of APS. 

All other doctors whose primary care organisations employ or contract with them as GPs need to be on the GP Register. Doctors on the GP Register are not required to work in an approved practice setting.

Non Primary Care Organisations

Organisations are listed under their full title. Please note that some organisations are therefore listed under 'The' (eg The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust).

Please see our list of non Primary Care Organisations.

Independent Sector Institutions

Institutions are listed under their full title.

Please see our list of Independent Sector Institutions.