A new approach to visiting and reporting

The GMC has published reports on the 2011/12 regional reviews of education and training in Wales and the West Midlands.

In 2011/12, we piloted a regional approach to visiting medical schools, deaneries and local education providers in Wales and the West Midlands, and we recently finished evaluating this approach. It has been well supported and we have received useful feedback that will enhance the process for future regional reviews.

The visits were risk-based, which means we considered areas of possible risk and good practice. This approach has changed the nature of our reporting, with more focus on addressing areas for improvement, as well as noting areas where a school or deanery has a particular strength.

The reports, therefore, should not be taken as a full picture of each organisation, but a summary of areas of risk and good practice. Against these areas, we tell the organisation where they are required to make changes to meet our standards, recommend areas for improvements, and highlight examples of good practice that other organisations could benefit from.

We have also published regional reports for Wales and the West Midlands, which draw together some themes that emerged over the course of each review.

You can read the regional reports and the full reports for each organisation at regional review reports.

We welcome your comments or feedback as we prepare for our regional review of London in 2012/13. You can contact us at quality@gmc-uk.org.