The General Medical Council (GMC) will seek to award non-GP trainers greater powers under new proposals.
The regulator has today (Friday 6 January) opened a four-month long consultation on its proposed new arrangements for the increased recognition and approval of medical trainers.
Under the new proposals, GP trainers will see their roles and responsibilities “clarified” in a bid to formally recognise their contribution.
The General Medical Council (GMC) will seek to award non-GP trainers greater powers under new proposals.
The regulator has today (Friday 6 January) opened a four-month long consultation on its proposed new arrangements for the increased recognition and approval of medical trainers.
Under the new proposals, GP trainers will see their roles and responsibilities “clarified” in a bid to formally recognise their contribution.
According to the GMC’s National training survey 2011, GP trainees have the highest satisfaction scores (87.2%) of all medical trainees when mentored by GMC-approved GP trainers.
While the GMC said it cannot officially approve non-GP trainers under its current legal powers, the new proposals will allow more “formal arrangements” to be put in place.
In order to gain full GMC trainer approval, local education providers such as NHS trusts would have to show how they identify, train and appraise training non GP-training staff using the Academy of Medical Educators’ seven-point plan.
Postgraduate deaneries and medical schools would also be responsible for holding the names of all recognised non-GP trainers and providing information to the GMC as to what local arrangements are in place to maintain standards.
“Doctors who train other doctors are absolutely critical to developing and improving standards of care – they help to shape the next generation of doctors and are important role models for medical students and trainee doctors,” said Niall Dickson, the Chief Executive of the GMC.
“We want to give this formal recognition by identifying and recognising the contribution they make to improving standards and protecting patients.”
The GMC intends to begin implementation of its proposals in 2013, subject to feedback from the consultation.
