College News - July 2010

30 July 2010

Update regarding discussions with JRCPTB on Trainee issues

We are continuing to work hard with the JRCPTB to improve communications with Trainees. This follows on from the breakdown in communication surrounding the JRCPTB fees rise. We want to ensure similar issues do not happen in the future and, after a recent meeting with the JRCPTB, we have agreed the following action points with the JRCPTB.

• Details of JRCPTB trainee fees will be communicated directly to the Trainee Committees each year with time for consideration and response prior to announcement to all trainees.
• The JRCPTB will communicate to Trainees how their fees are used each year.
• The JRCPTB are striving to improve data quality and management on enrolled Trainees and their payments.
• An item on the JRCPTB board meetings will be developed for specific Trainee business. This will allow the Trainee Committees to highlight pertinent issues to the board.
• The JRCPTB are considering our request for Non Consultant Career Grade (SAS) representation at JRCPTB board meetings.

We can also confirm that pre 2007 SpRs will not pay for £18 per year for the ePortfolio. The JRCPTB and Colleges are striving to update their records to reflect this as quickly as possible. 2007 to 2009 StRs will pay for the ePortfolio, but if at CCT they can show no use of the ePortfolio this fee will be fully refunded. Other important Trainee issues discussed at this meeting included the quality assurance of the ePortfolio, implementation of the 2010 specialty curricula and methods to support Foundation Year 2 doctors in all deaneries to commence MRCP. At present we feel positive and optimistic that we can continue to improve our lines of communication with the JRCPTB. We welcome input from trainees on individual and specific issues.

Dr Kerri Baker
Chair, RCPE Trainees & Members’ Committee

16 July 2010

NHS Revalidation Support Team: Updates

Fellows and Members may be interested in accessing a range of reports from several revalidation projects and pilots on the NHS Revalidation Support Team's website.

12 July 2010

Taking exams out of programme: update

Following discussion between the Colleges and the GMC, the GMC has decided that doctors who are already in specialty training or who enter by 31 October 2011 will be able to have any valid passes in previously approved national professional examinations counted towards a CCT, even if they were obtained outside approved training. By the end of October 2010, the GMC will issue guidance on recognition of examinations for doctors who may enter a CCT programme after 31 October 2011.

Dr Kerri Baker, Chair, RCPE Trainees & Members’ Committee, said,

“We have consistently advocated that attainment of MRCP(UK) is a valid demonstrator of competency, regardless of the timing of sitting, and believe that common sense has prevailed on this issue. Whilst this is very reassuring news for the large numbers of Trainees who would have been disadvantaged by the earlier ruling, we will have to work to ensure that those entering training after October 2011 are also not disadvantaged”

• GMC statement

07 July 2010

Preliminary RCPE Response to Temple Report (Impact of EWTR on Training)

Preliminary Response to “Time for Training” – a review of the impact of the European Working Time Directive on postgraduate training in England.

The College has provided detailed written evidence to the Temple Inquiry and I added verbal evidence, supported by trainee representatives from the College. We welcome Sir John Temple’s report and endorse the key comments and recommendations; in particular:

• the recognition of lost opportunities for high quality training within normal service provision;
• the difficulties caused by gaps in the trainee rotas;
• the absence of necessary senior support during out of hours for supervision and training due to increasing patient numbers and complexity;
• the need for adequate allocation of time in job plans for consultants with significant training responsibilities.

However, the College has some reservations, in the main the apparent contradictions between certain recommendations or with other recent policy decisions: namely

• the faith placed in models of Hospital at Night which are as yet unproven in many hospitals;
• the recommendation that all trainee-consultant interactions provide a valuable training opportunity and yet training may be restricted to consultants (or units) that excel at it;
• the recent Department of Health decisions to remove funding from innovative projects, e.g. e-learning for health just as Sir John calls for new and different ways of providing medical training. 

The College recognises that Sir John’s report focuses on training challenges in England but from recent research with Fellows and Members we know that these are replicated across the UK. I will ensure that changes in training and workforce planning in England as a result of the Temple Report are also considered in Scotland. In particular the College supports the recommendation for more flexible consultant working to enhance patient care and training opportunities across the full working week. This will be a challenging time to call for an expansion in the consultant workforce but without increased consultant capacity the required improvements will be undeliverable and the EWTD will indeed impact adversely on the abilities of the consultants of the future to deliver a safe and effective service. I will ensure the College has an opportunity to contribute to the next round of discussions regarding Sir John’s recommendations. 

Neil Dewhurst, President, 30 June 2010