Medical education in the United Kingdom

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Medical education in the United Kingdom includes educational activities involved in the education and training of medical doctors in the United Kingdom, from entry-level training through to continuing education of qualified specialists. A typical outline of the medical education pathway is presented here. However training schemes vary in different pathways may be available.

Contents

Medical school

Jeremy Hunt in 2016 got agreement to increase the number of doctors trained in England and five new medical schools were opened. [1]

Assessments

Like many other university degrees, UK medical schools design and deliver their own in-house assessments. This practice is different from, for example, the United States, where a national licensing examination has been in place for over 20 years. Each UK undergraduate summative assessment in medicine is subject to the scrutiny of a formally appointed external examiner.

In 2003 a number of UK medical schools began to work together to increase quality assurance activities in the area of assessment as part of the Universities Medical Assessment Partnership (UMAP). UMAP is a collaborative item banking project seeking to build a quality assured written assessment item bank suitable for high-stakes examinations at all UK medical schools.

Qualities assurance of the undergraduate medical education

The UK General Medical Council (GMC) has the ability to reverse its endorsement of any medical undergraduate training course as part of its regular visiting schedule should a course fall short of the expected standards.

Due to the UK code for higher education, first degrees in medicine comprises an integrated programme of study and professional practice spanning several levels. The final outcomes of the qualifications typically meet the expectations of a higher education qualification at level 7 (the UK Master's degree). These degrees may retain, for historical reasons, "Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery" and are abbreviated to MBChB or MBBS. [2]

Specialty training and postgraduate studies

Following completion of medical school, junior doctors then enter a vocational training phase. In the UK a doctor's training normally follows this path:

General Practitioner

To train as a general practitioner (GP), after completing the Foundation Programme, a doctor must complete three years of speciality training. This comprises a minimum of 12 to 18 months of posts in a variety of hospital specialities - often including paediatrics, psychiatry, geriatrics and obstetrics & gynaecology. [3] The trainee spends the remaining 18 to 24 months as a General Practice Speciality Registrar (GPST) - based in primary care. After completing this training and the membership exams and required portfolio of the Royal College of General Practitioners, the doctor will be awarded a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) from the GMC and can work as a General Practitioner and can practise independently as a post-CCT doctor.[ citation needed ] Many GPs undertake additional qualifications during training and may extend their training to accommodate these.[ citation needed ] There are also a number of post-CCT fellowships available for GPs.[ citation needed ] On qualifying, GPs will be added to the GMC General Practice Register, unlike their colleagues on the Specialty Register, GPs are unable to undertake formalised subspecialty training, however many have further qualifications in specialist areas and practice as sub-specialists.[ citation needed ]

Specialist Training

All doctors who are not training to be General Practitioners must complete an appropriate training pathway to gain entry to the General Medical Council specialty register, which provided eligibility to work as a Consultant Physician in the UK.[ citation needed ] Such training involved sitting a number of relevant postgraduate exams within their chosen speciality (e.g. Member of the Royal College of Physicians MRCP, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons MRCS) and competitive interview processes at various stages of training. Once this training pathway is completed a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) is awarded and the doctors name is added to the GMC Speciality Register.[ citation needed ]

The competition is significant for those who wish to attain the most sought after consultant posts and many trainees now complete higher degrees such as a Doctorate of Medicine (MD), which is a thesis-based award based on at least two years full-time equivalent research; or PhD which involves at least three years of full-time equivalent research. The time taken to get from medical school graduation to becoming a consultant varies from speciality to speciality but can be anything from 7 to over 10 years.[ citation needed ]

Evolution of Training Programmes

In the United Kingdom, doctors' training has been evolving, for example, with the introduction of run-through training programmes. [4] These offer direct entry to a typically longer training programme after foundation training (providing a pathway to consultant without an additional re-application step after the first 2–3 years). These changes were proposed in accordance with the government-instituted plan for Modernising Medical Careers. They formed part of a drive to offer streamlined training pathways, although in light of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, some have argued that current training frameworks are now too inflexible. [5] In UK trauma and orthopaedics, for instance, one study reported that trainees experienced a 43% reduction in surgical training activities due to the pandemic and all trainees in the study had their final examinations cancelled [6] - a situation incompatible with fixed, time-limited training pathways. In plastic surgery it has also been questioned whether the training standards set by the Joint Committee on Surgical Training (JCST) are achievable in the new training climate. [7]

Issues with training frameworks across all medical specialties had been identified previously [8] and high-profile calls are now being made to change the system in favour of individualised training tailored to each trainee. [9] In many ways this would be a return to the previous system.

NHS medical career grades

Medical career grades of the National Health Service
YearCurrent (Modernising Medical Careers)Previous
1 Foundation doctor (FY1 and FY2), 2 years Pre-registration house officer (PRHO), 1 year
2 Senior house officer (SHO),
minimum 2 years; often more
3 Specialty registrar,
general practice (GPST), minimum 3 years		Specialty registrar,
hospital speciality (SpR), minimum 5 years
4 Specialist registrar,
4–6 years		 GP registrar, 1 year
5General practitioner,
4 years total time in training
6–8 General practitioner,
minimum 5 years total time in training
9 Consultant, minimum 7 years total time in trainingConsultant, minimum 7–9 years total time in training
OptionalTraining is competency based, times shown are a minimum. Training may be extended by obtaining an Academic Clinical Fellowship for research or by dual certification in another speciality.Training may be extended by pursuing medical research (usually 2–3 years), usually with clinical duties as well

Continuing medical education

Continuing medical education is now mandatory for all doctors, under guidelines from the General Medical Council and Clinical governance.

Controversies

Selection

The Foundation Programme

Those hoping to work in the UK in foundation year one posts apply to a process co-ordinated by the United Kingdom Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO). Applicants are ranked based on a number of factors. Half of the marks available are awarded based on the candidate's performance in a situational judgement test, sat by every applicant for the programme. This examination is taken in two fortnight-long windows, typically before and after Christmas. [10]

During the first summative running of the UKFPO's Situational Judgement Test, issues were identified with the automatic marking process used which led to candidates being given incorrect scores. Offers were rescinded shortly after being made, and medical schools were required to remark all papers manually, delaying the application process. Following the re-marking, 148 applicants had their offers altered. [11]

During the 2021 application cycle, invigilation policies for candidates sitting the Situational Judgement Test outside of examination centres were covered in the mainstream media following reports that candidates were incontinent of urine after invigilators denied them permission to step away from their screens to use toilets. [12]

During the 2022 application cycle, the UKFPO apologised after it was heavily criticised for updating its website during the examination cycle to highlight a resource explaining how to address a type of question being introduced for the first time in that year's diet. The UKFPO was further criticised by applicants for the tone in its response to those raising concerns about the fairness of this. [13]

Higher specialty training

On May 4, 2018, the Royal College of Physicians apologised for a "human error" [14] which resulted in incorrect scores being given to applicants for higher specialty training in the physician specialties. This error - identified three months before candidates were due to take up new roles - required job offers to be rescinded and re-issued based on corrected scoring. Concerns were raised that those candidates whose job offers were in different parts of the country may have already made financial commitments in preparation for moving for their new posts. [15]

Postgraduate examinations

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine announced on May 16, 2022, that a number of candidates who had sat part of the Fellowship of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine two months previously had been incorrectly told they had passed the examination. This exam is sat by postgraduate doctors in training nearing completion of their training in emergency medicine; completion of training, or progression to higher stages of training, is contingent on passing it. [16]

The Royal College of Surgeons were heavily criticised for a question encountered by candidates sitting the September 2022 diet of the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland part A exam. This question was described by the Association of LGBTQ+ Doctors and Dentists as "built around harmful stereotypes and prejudice towards members of the LGBTQ+ community". [17]

The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology cancelled the September 2022 diet of the MRCOG seven days before candidates were due to sit it. This arose due to the decision of its exam delivery partner, Pearson Vue, to close their UK centres on September 19, 2022, following the UK Government's announcement of a bank holiday to mark the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Affected UK candidates were offered a resit; the examination will proceed as planned outside of the UK.

See also

Related Research Articles

Obstetrics and gynaecology is the medical specialty that encompasses the two subspecialties of obstetrics and gynaecology. The specialization is an important part of care for women's health.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radiology</span> Branch of medicine

Radiology is the medical specialty that uses medical imaging to diagnose diseases and guide their treatment, within the bodies of humans and other animals. It began with radiography, but today it includes all imaging modalities, including those that use no ionizing electromagnetic radiation, as well as others that do, such as computed tomography (CT), fluoroscopy, and nuclear medicine including positron emission tomography (PET). Interventional radiology is the performance of usually minimally invasive medical procedures with the guidance of imaging technologies such as those mentioned above.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General practitioner</span> Generalist medical doctor working in primary care

A general practitioner (GP) or family physician is a doctor who is a consultant in general practice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anesthesiology</span> Medical specialty concerned with anesthesia and perioperative care

Anesthesiology, anaesthesiology or anaesthesia is the medical specialty concerned with the total perioperative care of patients before, during and after surgery. It encompasses anesthesia, intensive care medicine, critical emergency medicine, and pain medicine. A physician specialized in anesthesiology is called an anesthesiologist, anaesthesiologist, or anaesthetist, depending on the country. In some countries, the terms are synonymous, while in other countries, they refer to different positions and anesthetist is only used for non-physicians, such as nurse anesthetists.

A Doctor of Medicine is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the M.D. denotes a professional degree. This generally arose because many in 18th-century medical professions trained in Scotland, which used the M.D. degree nomenclature. In England, however, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.) was used: in the 19th century, it became the standard in Scotland too. Thus, in the United Kingdom, Ireland and other countries, the M.D. is a research doctorate, honorary doctorate or applied clinical degree restricted to those who already hold a professional degree (Bachelor's/Master's/Doctoral) in medicine. In those countries, the equivalent professional degree to the North American, and some others' usage of M.D. is still typically titled Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery.

A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, professional school, or forms a part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Master of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine (MD), or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). Many medical schools offer additional degrees, such as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), master's degree (MSc) or other post-secondary education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Residency (medicine)</span> Postgraduate medical training

Residency or postgraduate training is a stage of graduate medical education. It refers to a qualified physician, veterinarian, dentist, podiatrist (DPM) or pharmacist (PharmD) who practices medicine or surgery, veterinary medicine, dentistry, podiatry, or clinical pharmacy, respectively, usually in a hospital or clinic, under the direct or indirect supervision of a senior medical clinician registered in that specialty such as an attending physician or consultant.

A number of professional degrees in dentistry are offered by dental schools in various countries around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medical education in Australia</span>

Medical education in Australia includes the educational activities involved in the initial and ongoing training of Medical Practitioners. In Australia, medical education begins in Medical School; upon graduation it is followed by a period of pre-vocational training including Internship and Residency; thereafter, enrolment into a specialist-vocational training program as a Registrar eventually leads to fellowship qualification and recognition as a fully qualified Specialist Medical Practitioner. Medical education in Australia is facilitated by Medical Schools and the Medical Specialty Colleges, and is regulated by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) of which includes the Medical Board of Australia where medical practitioners are registered nationally.

Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) is a programme for postgraduate medical training introduced in the United Kingdom in 2005. The programme replaced the traditional grades of medical career before the level of Consultant. The different stages of the programme contribute towards a "Certificate of Completion of Training" (CCT). It has been dogged by criticism within and outside the medical profession, and an independent review of MMC led by Professor Sir John Tooke criticised many aspects of it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal College of General Practitioners</span> Professional body for doctors in the UK

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) is the professional body for general (medical) practitioners in the United Kingdom. The RCGP represents and supports GPs on key issues including licensing, education, training, research and clinical standards. It is the largest of the medical royal colleges, with over 54,000 members. The RCGP was founded in 1952 in London, England and is a registered charity. Its motto is Cum Scientia Caritas – "Compassion [empowered] with Knowledge."

Membership of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (MRCEM) and Fellowship of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (FRCEM) are postgraduate awards made by the UK Royal College of Emergency Medicine to specialists in Emergency Medicine.

A specialty registrar (StR), previously known as and still commonly referred to as a specialist registrar (SpR), is a doctor, public health practitioner or dentist who is working as part of a specialty training programme in the UK. This is known as a training grade as these doctors are supervised to an extent, as part of a structured training experience that leads to being able to undertake independent practice in a hospital specialty or working as a general practitioner.

Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, abbreviated as the post-nominal initials FRACP, is a recognition of the completion of the prescribed postgraduate specialist training programme in internal adult or internal paediatric medicine of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

The Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board was the non-departmental public body responsible for postgraduate medical education and training in the United Kingdom (UK). The General Medical Council (GMC) took over the functions of PMETB on 1 April 2010 when the two organisations merged.

Medical education in Ireland is the education of medical students and qualified medical doctors across the island of Ireland.

Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) is a postgraduate medical qualification in the United Kingdom (UK) run by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). On successful completion of the assessment, general practitioners are eligible to use the post-nominal letters MRCGP that indicate Membership of the RCGP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medical education in India</span> Medical education

The standard entry-to-practice degree in modern evidence-based medicine in India is the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). Alternative systems of Medicine in India are Ayurveda (BAMS), Unani (BUMS), Siddha(BSMS), Homeopathy (BHMS). M.B.B.S. a credential earned upon completion of a five-and-a-half-year undergraduate program. The curriculum is divided into one year of preclinical studies in general science subjects and three and a half years of paraclinical and clinical studies, followed by a one-year clinical internship. Before beginning the internship, students are required to pass several examinations, the final one of which is conducted in two parts. Postgraduate education in medical specialties typically takes 3 additional years of study after the MBBS and concludes with the award of a Master of Surgery or Doctor of Medicine(MD). Postgraduate diplomas in medical specialities may also be awarded upon the completion of two-year training programs. After that a person can further get a degree in superspeciality in his or her respective branch after successful completion of 3 years of superspeciality in a medical college.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medical education in Wales</span> Education of medical students

Medical education in Wales is the education of medical students and qualified medical doctors in Wales.

Medical education in Scotland includes the education of medical students and qualified medical doctors in Scotland.

References

  1. ↑ Hunt, Jeremy (2022). Zero. London: Swift Press. p. 58. ISBN   9781800751224.
  2. ↑ The UK quality code for higher education
  3. ↑ "CCT". www.rcgp.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  4. ↑ Jahangiri M, Hyde J, Sadler P, Tsui S (2021). "Training in cardiothoracic surgery: how far is the other side of the table?". Bull R Coll Surg Engl. 103 (2): 68–71. doi: 10.1308/rcsbull.2021.33 .
  5. ↑ Roche CD (2021). "Locked in – Locked out: Inflexibility in UK training". Trauma. 23 (2): 87–89. doi: 10.1177/1460408621993755 .
  6. ↑ Bodansky D, Thornton L, Sargazi N, Philpott M, Davies R, Banks J (2020). "Impact of COVID-19 on UK orthopaedic training". Bull R Coll Surg Engl. 103 (1): 121–122. doi: 10.1308/rcsbull.2021.11 .
  7. ↑ Daniels J, Moura F, Majeed Y, Bedford J (2020). "Can plastic surgery training meet current core standards?". Bull R Coll Surg Engl. 102 (2): e005. doi: 10.1308/rcsbull.2020.e005 .
  8. ↑ Elton C (2018). "Also human: the inner lives of doctors". Cornerstone, London, United Kingdom.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ↑ Mitchell T (2020). "Adapting for the future: flexibility of UK postgraduate training". Surgery. 38 (10): 670–674. doi: 10.1016/j.mpsur.2020.07.004 . PMC   7456398 . PMID   32904590.
  10. ↑ "FAQs". UK Foundation Programme. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  11. ↑ Moberly, Tom (8 March 2013). "Foundation allocation of 148 students is changed in wake of scanning error". BMJ. 346: f1590. doi:10.1136/bmj.f1590. PMID   23474417. S2CID   10154654.
  12. ↑ McArdle, Helen. "'Humiliating': Fury as medical students forced to wet themselves or failed for putting on jumper in 'shocking' online test". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  13. ↑ "A response to queries regarding 'sample paper with rationale': 11th January 2022 - UK Foundation Programme". The Foundation Programme. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  14. ↑ "RCP apologises for ST3 recruitment error". The Royal College of Physicians. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  15. ↑ "Hundreds of UK doctors have job offers withdrawn after error". The Guardian. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  16. ↑ "RCEM statement on the March 2022 FRCEM SBA exam". Royal College of Emergency Medicine. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  17. ↑ "The Association of LGBTQ+ Doctors & Dentists". Twitter. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
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