Regulating doctors, ensuring good medical practice

GMC urges 55,000 trainee doctors to complete National Training Survey

Press Release

21 May 2012

Fifty-five thousand frontline doctors are being urged to share their views on the quality of their training in one of the largest surveys of its kind anywhere in the world.

Trainee doctors provide much of the basic care in the NHS and according to the General Medical Council, are key to the future of medicine in the UK.

Today (21 May) the GMC called on every trainee doctor to complete its annual National Training Survey which for the first time includes a specific question on whether they have concerns over the safety of their patients.

The responses to the survey provide a vital snapshot of doctors’ perceptions of their training and help shape the future of postgraduate medical education in the UK.

The GMC will work with those responsible for medical education at a local level to analyse and follow up any information provided.

Niall Dickson, Chief Executive of the General Medical Council, today said:

‘This survey provides us with first hand views of a key group of doctors who are vital both to frontline care and to the future of the profession in this country.

'It will help build up a picture of what works well in their training and where improvement is needed.

‘And, like all doctors, they have a crucial role in making sure patients are safe and receive the best quality of care – and that includes raising concerns when they feel that patient safety is at risk.

‘This is not a “catch all” for patient safety but by including this question we hope it will act as another powerful way to help identify risks in the health system.’

The National Training Survey is supported by the Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans (COPMeD).

The survey's results are set to be published in July.

Last year's survey was completed by more than 87% of trainee doctors. Overall, the doctors reported high levels of satisfaction with their education but also raised a number of concerns – some suggested that there was not enough time for training and others said they were being asked to take on tasks beyond their competence.

For more information visit www.gmc-uk.org/nts

Notes to editors:

For further information please contact the GMC's Media Relations Office on 020 7189 5454 or out of hours on 020 7189 5444/ 07920 461497.

The results from last year’s surveys can be viewed at www.gmc-uk.org/education/national_summary_reports.asp

The survey opened on 30th April 2012. From this date trainees have been able to log in to GMC Online and complete the survey. The survey closes at midnight on 15th June.

This year’s survey will for the first time includes a specific question on whether trainee doctors have any concerns over the safety of their patients. If, however, trainee doctors do have any concerns over patient safety, the GMC expects them to also raise such issues through the appropriate procedures in line with their responsibilities under the Good Medical Practice framework and the GMC’s Raising Concern guidance:

www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance/raising_concerns.asp

Regional breakdown of trainee doctors:

  • England: 45,401
  • Wales: 2,403
  • Scotland: 5,126
  • Northern Ireland: 1,629
  • Total: 54,559

All doctors will this year also be able to use a new online reporting tool to complete the survey which will also be used to highlight the key findings. From July, trainees will be able to filter, merge and compare information between specialties and locations including the views of colleagues for their specialty at a different location which may influence where they apply for their next post.

Trainees are defined as:

  • Foundation trainees (F1 and F2 trainees on a foundation programme
  • Core trainees
  • Higher specialty training, including specialist registrars and GP trainees
  • Fixed term specialty training appointment trainees
  • Military trainees – all military trainees working with the service on all approved programmes
  • Trainees working for non NHS organisations. For example, occupational medicine, pharmaceutical medicine and palliative medicine.
  • Public Health trainees who are not medically qualified will be invited separately by the Faculty of Public Health Medicine.

The following trainees do not need to take part:

  • Trainees on maternity leave on the census date
  • Trainees on Out of Programme Training or Out of Programme Research on the census date
  • Dentists
  • Doctors who have been awarded their Certificate of Completion of Training but are awaiting a consultant post

The General Medical Council registers and licenses doctors to practise medicine in the UK.

The law gives us four main functions:

  • Keeping up-to-date registers of qualified doctors
  • Fostering good medical practice
  • Promoting high standards of medical education and training
  • Dealing firmly and fairly with doctors whose fitness to practise is in doubt.