Independent review to
establish the way forward for modernising medical careers
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release (2007/0088) issued by The Government News Network on 16
April 2007
Health Secretary
Patricia Hewitt today announced an independent review to establish
how the Modernising Medical Careers programme will go forward in
2008 and beyond.
The review will be chaired by Sir John Tooke, Dean of the
Peninsula Medical School, Chair of the Council of Heads of Medical
Schools and Chair of the UK Health Education Advisory Committee.
Membership of the panel is still to be confirmed, the review will
examine the processes underlying Modernising Medical Careers and
make recommendations to ensure that we can implement any necessary
improvements for 2008 and the future.
The reform of specialist medical training is the next stage of
the Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) initiative, designed to
improve the quality and safety of patient care through better
education and training for doctors and ensure fully trained
specialist doctors deliver more NHS services.
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said:
"I would first like to record my gratitude to Professor Neil
Douglas and his current Review Group for the investment of time
and expertise they have put into providing recommendations for the
current years training selection process.
"It was important to find a sensible way forward for 2007
but we now need to look forward to 2008. The new panel will build
on the work of the current Review Group. We are now some two years
into the Modernising Medical Careers initiative which started
with the successful launch of Foundation Programmes in 2005. I
believe, therefore, that the time is now right to undertake a
wider review of Modernising Medical Careers. It is an important
programme and we must apply the lessons we have learned to a wider context.
"The review will clarify and strengthen the principles
underlying MMC to ensure that they have engagement and support
from the medical profession and its leaders. I want the review
particularly to look at how the processes involved in delivering
Modernising Medical Careers meets the needs of the service,
employers and doctors in training.
"Engagement from the profession is very important. There is
a broad consensus on the essential principles of Modernising
Medical Careers but this consensus must be translated into
benefits that are tangible to the trainees themselves.
"The medical education and training system in this country
is rightly regarded as second to none. The pursuit of excellence
is at its roots. The move we are making to a transparent,
competence-based training system based on clear standards, that
provides a level playing field for all junior doctors and the best
possible doctors for patients is the right way forward and is
widely accepted. However, I want trainees to understand that
excellence and high achievement are still at the heart of the system.
"The design and implementation of Modernising Medical
Careers will inevitably involve a great range of stakeholders from
the Royal Colleges, individual employers, postgraduate deaneries,
the BMA, doctors themselves and patients. I want the review to
address this and help us make sure we engage with the stakeholders
as effectively as possible.
"I also want to ensure that Modernising Medical Careers can
deliver a flexible response and can reflect local needs across the
UK as well as safeguarding national standards. The review will of
course consult the devolved administrations to secure this. "
Notes to editors
- Further announcements about the terms of reference and
membership of the review will be made as soon as possible.
- A written statement to the House on 27 March explained the
progress and decisions the Independent Review Group had made.
- The review group has concluded that the concerns raised about
recruitment related in the main to the process itself and not to
the underlying principles of Modernising Medical Careers.
Recommendations included:
- The General Practice recruitment exercise will as far as
possible continue as planned though the timetable may need to be
revised. This recruitment process has not been subject to the same
concerns as specialty recruitment.
- The Review Group is undertaking further work on recruitment
into academic medical programmes. The Group issued a further
statement on 4 April that set out its proposals for the way ahead
for recruitment into specialty training. The Group made a number
of recommendations on the present recruitment round.
- For applicants who have already been short-listed, all
interviews already conducted in Round 1 of the process will be
honoured and the outcomes will count. Applicants will also be able
to revise their preferences in the light of published competition
ratios. They will be able to do this later this week.
- They will also get offers of interviews for their first
preference job for which they are eligible if they have not
already had one.
- Where candidates have not previously been short-listed, they
will be allowed to revise their preferences and will be guaranteed
an offer of an interview for their first preference for which they
are eligible.
- There will be a second round of recruitment for applicants who
do not get jobs in the first round. This second round will be
based on a revised short-listing and interview process including a
structured CV.
- Further information about MMC can be found at http://www.mmc.nhs.uk
Richmond House 79 Whitehall London SW1A 2NS
Telephone: (Dept
of Health) 0207 210-3000