Psychiatric Trainees'
Committee
Royal College of Psychiatrists
17 Belgrave Square
London
Professor Sheila Hollins
President
Royal College of Psychiatrists
17 Belgrave Square
London
10th March 2008
Dear Professor Hollins
Re: Post CCT Training Posts
I am writing to outline the views
of the Psychiatric Trainees' Committee regarding the proposed
Post-CCT training posts.
We understand that these posts have
been proposed in an attempt to recycle NTNs and that they will be
available for SpRs who are currently in the 'period of grace'.
On face value these posts appear to
offer additional training opportunities. However, the details
are unclear and this has prompted an active discussion within the
PTC.
The PTC has a number of concerns
including:
1. We
believe that the introduction of formulised Post-CCT training risks
devaluing the CCT. It should remain clear that the CCT
represents the attainment of the necessary training and experience
to enter the specialist register and marks a standard at which a
doctor is competent to practise independently as a
consultant.
2. We
believe that there needs to be careful thought as to whether these
posts would be beneficial to psychiatry. The specific
subjects for any Post-CCT training need to be carefully
considered. In order to not undermine the quality or level of
pre-CCT training it would be necessary to focus on highly
specialised areas which are not covered in depth by the
curriculum. We believe that they should not be a replacement
for dual training which should continue in specific CCT speciality
combinations. To be beneficial to both patients and the
profession Post-CCT training posts would need to be closely mapped
to defined service needs.
3.
There is a lack of clarity as to where these posts will lie
regarding terms and conditions. Whilst it is somewhat
intuitive to place them at the top of the training structure, there
need to be clear provisions for career progression. There
would be significant advantages in placing them within the
consultant grade, as their role may be most advantageous as posts
offering structured training in specific specialised areas to
augment a particular consultant post. We believe that the
most appropriate applicant should be appointed proleptically to the
consultant post and then undergo a time-limited period of directed
training. This would enable the consultant to be better
suited to the niche clinical or other responsibilities that the
particular post entails. The PTC is concerned that if these
posts were not placed within either the training or consultant
grade then they would represent sub-consultant posts.
4.
The regulation of these posts needs to be clear and specific
curricula would need to be written. If they are indeed
training posts then we believe that they should fall under the
Quality Framework as outlined by PMETB. This would help to
ensure that the emphasis remained on training rather than service
provision.
Whilst crucial details of these
proposed Post-CCT posts remain unclear the PTC cannot support the
concept, particularly as the implications are likely to have a
significant and longlasting impact on postgraduate medical
education. We also do not support the creation of
sub-consultant posts. Instead, we believe that measured
expansion of the consultant grade, with the continuing acquisition
of further skills through continued professional development and
experience, would better fulfil the needs of patients and the
profession.
We urge you to consider not
accepting the offer of Post-CCT posts in psychiatry. We feel
that an as yet ill-defined one year post of unproven benefit for a
very small number of trainees do not warrant the dilution of the
principle that pre-CCT training adequately equips you to be a
consultant psychiatrist.
We think that there should be an
urgent discussion within the College regarding Post-CCT training
and its wider implications including the sub-consultant grade.
Yours sincerely
Dr Ollie White
Chair, Psychiatric Trainees' Committee, Royal College of
Psychiatrists.
cc Professor
Dinesh Bhugra, Dean
Dr Nick Brown, Associate Dean - Training
Dr Sally Pidd, Associate Dean - Workforce
Dr Amit Malik, Training Policy Advisor
Back to Trainees' Home Page
Page last updated on 3rd April
2008