Hospital doctors : training for the future : the report of the Working Group on Specialist Medical Training, and, Training for specialist practice : a report to the Chief Medical Officers̀ Working Group to advise on specialist training in the United Kingdom.

  • Great Britain. Working Group on Specialist Medical Training.
Date:
1993
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Hospital doctors : training for the future : the report of the Working Group on Specialist Medical Training, and, Training for specialist practice : a report to the Chief Medical Officers̀ Working Group to advise on specialist training in the United Kingdom. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report reviews the current arrangements for specialist training and calls for changes consistent with EC law. It also identifies areas for further review and development. The report reviews progress with the development of structured and planned training programmes, and notes the potential for the duration of specialist training to be reduced. Based on the evidence provided by the Medical Royal Colleges and other educational bodies, it set out the principles to be taken into account in the planning of training programmes. As a result the report recommends: | - the introduction of improved training programmes by the end of 1995 + the establishment of a single training grade by mid-1995 to replace the career registrar and senior registrar grades - the establishment of regular discussions between the educational bodies and the Postgraduate Deans as soon as possible - the introduction of a new Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST). This is to be awarded by the GMC on the advice from the appropriate College that a doctor has completed a training programme which meets the requirements of the EC directives to a standard compatible with independent practice and eligibility for consideration for appointment to a consultant post. The report goes on to identify the need for the award of a CCST, or the equivalent qualification from another EC member state, to be shown on the medical register by the introduction of CT as a specialist indicator, together with the relevant specialty, the year of award and the member state in which the qualification was awarded. The implications of these recommendations for the consultant appointment system are noted, and it is recommended that guidance for Advisory Appointment Committee members should be reconsidered. A number of issues are referred for further consideration to the forum which is to review the operation of the consultant appointments procedure. The report then considers wider issues arising from the Group’s work; first how the UK input into EC medical legislation, and liaison with European colleagues, might be organised better. In particular it calls for the establishment of improved communication and liaison arrangements, including changes in the membership of the UK delegation to the Advisory Committee on Medical Training. Implications for career structure, manpower planning, and service provision are also discussed; in particular the need for increases in the number of consultants. Finally, the report notes the need for transitional arrangements during the period of change from one system to another and sets out the main strands of action required. It recommends that: - its recommendations should be implemented within 2 years of being accepted by Ministers - the Chief Medical Officer should monitor the action being taken forward.