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RCGP comment on the Department of Health’s response to the Tooke report

29.02.08

We are encouraged that the Secretary of State’s response to Tooke is generally positive. We are encouraged that the profession is being given such a key role in its implementation – particularly extending GP training to five years. There is a strong evidence base that the RCGP GP curriculum can be best delivered over a five year period. We believe that such extended training of generalists is in the best interest of patients. 

We have already begun to work with the Department of Health to look at ways of implementing longer training.

We appreciate that there will need to be a transition period before extended training is available to all. However, we do not see any merit in waiting until 2011 and work needs to start now.  The RCGP is a UK and international College and we are delighted that in Scotland a significant number of trainees will be offered a four year training programme from August this year. We very much hope England and other parts of the UK will follow soon.

We continue to favour run through training as the best option for the majority of trainees in general practice. However, we accept the need to offer the option of core and specialty training and look forward to working with our sister Colleges to develop core curricula. This option will facilitate transfer between specialties at the end of core training for the few trainees who might wish this. We are also pleased that the Foundation Programme will be reviewed and that there will be no changes to the current two year structure immediately.  We believe that all doctors should have thorough experience of general practice regardless of their ultimate career destination and Foundation Year 2 has allowed the majority of doctors to experience this.

Although we did not support the merger of PMETB with the GMC, we will nonetheless look forward to working with a new organisation which provides for stronger undergraduate and postgraduate education. It is, however, important that this is carried out with no disruption to trainees or GP educators.

Professor Steve Field, Chair of the RCGP

ends

For more information please contact the RCGP press office 020 7344 3135/3136/3137/3129 or email press@rcgp.org.uk