The RCP submits evidence to the Independent Review of MMC

From Mmc

The RCP submits evidence to the Independent Review of MMC

An independent review of modernising medical careers

INTRODUCTION

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) plays a leading role in the delivery of high quality patient care by setting standards of medical practice and promoting clinical excellence. We provide physicians in the United Kingdom and overseas with education, training and support throughout their careers. As an independent body representing over 20,000 Fellows and Members worldwide, we advise and work with government, the public, patients and other professions to improve health and healthcare. We are please to submit evidence to the Tooke Inquiry into MMC.

This response has been developed following a process of wide consultation with Fellows and Members of the College, with our Trainees, and with representatives of our Patients and Carers network.

In section one, we provide a summary of the key responses and recommendations made by the College and we develop these more fully in section two. In appendix one we provide the full response of our Trainees Committee to the questions posed by the Inquiry. In appendix two we give the results of our retrospective review of the College’s engagement with the MMC project.

SECTION 1: SUMMARY OF KEY RESPONSES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1. It is clear that major changes are required in the process for recruitment and selection to specialty. The College supports the continued development of a rigorously piloted national portal of entry, but cautions that Deanery based mechanisms will need to be maintained. More than one appointment round per annum should be introduced.
2. The Royal College of Physicians supports the original underlying principles of MMC, and welcomes the associated educational reforms, but is concerned that, as currently implemented, the new structures have not adequately enacted the core principle of trainee centred flexibility in training. The principle of flexibility must be reaffirmed and be at the heart of the new model of medical training.
3. The College believes that the key to re-introducing this core principle is to uncouple Core Medical Training from Specialty Training with competitive selection into ST3. We believe that this structure offers benefits to the patients, to the service, and to the trainees, including those intending a career in specialties other than medicine. Flexibility would be enhanced by the addition of a third optional year in CMT. The Trainees Committee of the College strongly supports these core recommendations.
4. For trainees appointed to ST1 or ST2 in 2007 who may not benefit from this uncoupled structure, we recommend that flexibility is achieved by ensuring that they may apply outside their current deanery for specialty training.
5. The College is already working with other Colleges to agree shared elements of core programmes and related assessments. We wish to produce trainees who are empowered by a wide range of generic and specific skills that will benefit patients and facilitate self-determination in trainee career choice. We recommend that Colleges continue to build on this joint approach.
6. The criteria for entry into Specialty Training should include contemporaneous demonstration of the knowledge and skills required of a Physician as evidenced by attainment of the MRCP(UK).
7. The College shares the view of its Trainees Committee that Quality Assurance of Training Programmes has become less rigorous following the changes implemented by PMETB and that more robust processes with appropriate external professional input are required to ensure a satisfactory educational environment for the individual trainee.
8. MMC must accommodate the needs of those who wish to train flexibly, including academic trainees. In addition the College recommends that the selection process for academics must reflect the specific nature of their training in order that those with the greatest potential are identified.
9. The College welcomes recent moves to secure more robust project management for MMC. To complement this change, PMETB must, as originally planned, become a smaller, light-touch competent body with maximum delegation of accountable operational delivery to the Colleges. Furthermore, the process of bringing this body under the overarching regulatory leadership of the GMC needs to be accelerated. The professional accountability of the Postgraduate Deans to the centre also needs to be strengthened.
10. The College wishes to see full implementation of the MMC plans for counselling and careers advice, and the time necessary for consultants to support this activity must be reflected in job plans.

FULL TEXT OF STATEMENT

Full Statement (35 page pdf, 169K)