08/01/08
RCGP response to the Tooke report
RCGP Chairman Professor Steve Field said:
“The Royal College of General Practitioners
welcomes Sir John Tooke’s report, particularly the recommendation
that GP training is lengthened to five years and the proposals to
bring academic training for GPs in line with other specialties. We
are delighted with this outcome because it is an acknowledgement of
all the hard work that has gone into the RCGP GP training
curriculum.
“We have some reservations about the detail
but would like to offer our full support and leadership in
implementing the five-year programmes.
“The RCGP supports the division of training
into new core specialty training programmes in family medicine and
training as a specialty registrar and we agree that both should be
managed by Directors of Postgraduate GP Education in partnership
with the RCGP. We also welcome the opportunity for doctors to spend
time in core specialty training programmes in family medicine and
then move into other specialty programmes such as public health,
paediatrics, genetics and occupational health.
“But whilst we can understand the reasons for
recommending the abolition of Foundation Year 2, we are concerned
that specialists might not have the opportunity to spend time in
general practice during their first year of core specialty
training.
“Overall, the report gives us a unique
opportunity to deliver higher standards of care for our patients
through excellent medical training. We look forward to
working with the other Royal Colleges, Postgraduate Deaneries and
other stakeholders in ensuring that family medicine is at the core
of training for all our doctors of the future.”
ends
For more information please contact
the RCGP press office on 020 7344 3129 / press@rcgp.org.uk