NHS Employers produced a discussion
paper in January 2007 entitled "The future of the medical
workforce". It recognised the impact of changes related to the
consultant contract, expanding medical school p;laces, EWTD, MMC on
the training of doctors and in their role. A number of key
questions were raised which includes whether all UK graduates
should be guaranteed a foundation training psts, whether a modest
oversupply of graduates would be beneficial, whether all trained
doctors in secondary care will be consultants, whether or not there
is a need for a new specialist grade below consultant, whether or
not more of the work undertaken by doctors could be undertaken by
other healthcare professionals and what the role fof the doctor of
the future would look like.
The discussion paper can be viewed
by clicking on the link below:
A position paper was the published
in October 2007 following a workshop to explore issues raised by
employers and stakeholders in response to the discussion paper.
Some of the key points were that we need a medical workfoce capable
of adapting to an anticipated change in the way that some services
are delivered, employers favour a modular approach to training,
there needs to be an appropriate balance between service
delivery and learning, and a small planned oversupply in
the medical workforce is desirable.
The position paper can be viewed by
clicking on the link below:
In November 2008, a briefing paper
was published on "Medical training and careers - the employer's
vision". This paper stated that employers favoured a modular
approach to training and they described a credentialing process.
They stated that the future NHS would not require all dotors to
progress to the current role of the consultant and the paper
discussed new roles and structures. The future role for doctors on
the specilaist register is going to be different to that of the
current consultant role. Some employers feel that, as CCT holders
don't have the confidence and experience due to a reduced training
time, the CCT holders should spend time in a post-CCT career post
focussed on service delivery. There is also a section in the paper
on Foundation training where employers would prefer 6 month
postings rather than 4 month postings and there was considerable
support for a third year of foundation training.
The briefing paper can be viewed by
clicking on the link below:
The PTC have produced a
response to this paper which can be viewed by clicking on the link
below:
The PTC supported the continuation
of 4 month Foundation training posts but did not support an
additional year of Foundation training. There is an alternative,
optional programme, led by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
which the PTC would be in support of. The PTC are opposed to
credentialling and the creation of a subconsultant grade.
Further information and links to
the above papers and other related papers can be found at:
http://www.nhsemployers.org/workforce/workforce-2193.cfm
The PTC and the Staff and Associate
Specialist Psychiatrists are strongly opposed to the creation of a
subconsultant grade and have produced a statement outlining these
views. The statement can be viewed by clicking on the link
below:
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Page last updated on 24th
January 2009 by E Baker-Glenn