Education news from the GMC - May 2011
The Education News Update is a regular e-bulletin which contains the latest news and developments in medical education and training from the GMC.
To receive the update, please send an email to education@gmc-uk.org.
In this issue:
Quality Improvement Framework (QIF) now launched
The QIF is the GMC’s overarching Quality Improvement Framework for education. It sets out how we will work with our partners to ensure the medical education and training they deliver meet the standards we require. Operational guidance to accompany this will be available soon.
Read the new Quality Improvement Framework (pdf).
GMC quality assurance visits
We are piloting a new regional visits process in autumn 2011. The visits will incorporate Birmingham, Cardiff, Keele, Swansea and Warwick Medical Schools and Wales and West Midlands deaneries. The visits will consider the quality of medical education and training across the continuum of undergraduate and postgraduate; combining the quality assurance of foundation and specialty including GP training. By looking at undergraduate and postgraduate training across a region at the same time we will be able to see how medical schools and deaneries work together to train doctors.
This regional approach aims to reduce the impact of visits on local education providers (LEPs) as GMC visit teams will cover both undergraduate and postgraduate training on a single visit. LEPs will not therefore have to prepare for separate visits to cover undergraduate, foundation and specialty including GP training which was previously the case.
We are also piloting quality assurance reviews with small specialties, which will include some visits. Contact quality@gmc-uk.org to find out more about this work.
National Training Surveys 2011 launched
Invitations to the GMC’s annual surveys for trainers and trainees are being sent by email between 2 and 31 May. If you are a trainer or trainee in postgraduate medical education, you are required to take part. The surveys offer a picture of training by deanery, specialty, LEP and more. Importantly they will reflect the training being delivered at the place where you work. Please make sure that you and your colleagues have completed the surveys by 22 July.
Visit our surveys pages to find out more.
Tomorrow’s Doctors: new supplementary advice
We have published two new pieces of supplementary advice to support implementation of Tomorrow’s Doctors (2009).
- 1. Patient and public involvement in undergraduate medical education (pdf) sets out the importance of patient and public involvement and ways in which medical schools can make it happen.
- 2. Developing teachers and trainers in undergraduate medical education (pdf) sets out how medical schools can develop and support the teachers and trainers of medical students.
Continuing professional development: let us know your views
The GMC Education Strategy 2011-2013 (pdf) includes a commitment to review our role in relation to doctors' continuing professional development (CPD). Good Medical Practice requires doctors to keep their knowledge and skills up to date throughout their careers. Revalidation will place increasing emphasis on this.
We are now exploring how we can help doctors plan, carry out and evaluate CPD relevant to their practice. We want to promote excellence in the profession and support doctors throughout their medical careers. See CPD for more information.
As part of the review we would like to get a snapshot of how doctors use CPD and their views on the role the GMC should play in supporting doctors' CPD activities. We have launched an informal survey to support the review.
You can participate at: Survey on the Role of the GMC in CPD, which will be running until July 2011. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like any further information about the review (probblee@gmc-uk.org / 020 7189 5207).
National framework for the approval of trainers
The GMC is developing a national framework for the approval of trainers of undergraduate and postgraduate learners in clinical environments. A draft definition of ‘trainer’ for the purpose of approval has been agreed and is available in Progress Report on Approval of Trainers Task and Finish Group.
The definition will be among a number of proposals on which we will consult in 2012. The support of trainers, medical schools, postgraduate deaneries and employers will be critical and the GMC is keen to engage with key interests as the work develops.
For further information contact Ben Griffith at bgriffith@gmc-uk.org.
National professional examinations
The currency, timing and number of attempts which should be allowed for professional examinations were discussed at a recent meeting of the GMC’s Postgraduate Board.
Following our recent consultation on national professional examinations taken outside of a training programme, we have asked the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges to lead discussions with medical Royal Colleges, Postgraduate Deaneries, trainees, patients and the public and representatives of the NHS with a view to achieving agreement by 31 December 2011 in respect of the currency, timing and number of attempts at professional examinations. This work is being taken forward by the Academy's Assessment Committee.
We will then decide on our next steps based on its progress, as well as evidence drawn from our review of PLAB and our work on assessment and assessment systems including some research.
The current flexibility on accepting examination passes for a CCT has been extended to 31 October 2013.
See national professional examinations for further information.
Other GMC news: review of Good Medical Practice
We are reviewing Good Medical Practice, our core guidance for doctors. GMP sets out the principles and values on which good practice is founded and lets the public know what they can expect from doctors. To help us review GMP, we want to hear from doctors, patients, employers and anyone else who has an interest in the important issues it addresses.
Visit Review of Good Medical Practice to read thought-provoking articles and opinion pieces and take part in monthly polls on key issues in GMP and to let us know what you think makes a good doctor.