Abstract
SummaryRecent concerns about the future of psychiatry have led to various calls for action. We argue that an overhaul of postgraduate training in psychiatry is the necessary first step to ensuring a strong future for the profession. Central to these improvements are reaffirming the ideals of psychiatric training, ensuring appropriate prominence of crucial knowledge and skills in the curriculum and providing tailored training placements with an emphasis on excellence. It is imperative that short-term service-provision need does not adversely have an impact on the training that is needed to ensure excellent patient care for the future. We urge the College to continue to work closely with psychiatric trainees to secure their future.
Highlights
Declaration of interest C.O. and J.J. are past Chairs of the Psychiatric Trainees’ Committee of the Royal College of Psychiatrists but the views expressed are their own
The future picture is likely to be one of greater involvement of provider organisations (namely National Health Service (NHS) trusts and other organisations delivering healthcare) in the commissioning and provision of postgraduate training under the new Local Education and Training Boards (LETBs)/Health Education England (HEE) arrangements; with postgraduate medical education and training becoming more closely aligned with the training of other healthcare professionals
The General Medical Council (GMC) has recently consulted on suggestions for the approval and recognition of specialty trainers to bring these arrangements in line with those for general practice, where trainers already require specific GMC approval.[12]
Summary
Current attention on the future of postgraduate medical education make it timely to consider what reforms could be beneficial to psychiatry . Government proposals for changes in postgraduate medical training have recently been outlined in an initial White Paper and subsequent policy accompanying the health bill.[6,7] Under new arrangements, postgraduate training of doctors, as well as all other health professionals, will be administered by Local Education and Training Boards (LETBs), with national oversight being provided by the newly formed Health Education England (HEE). The future picture is likely to be one of greater involvement of provider organisations (namely National Health Service (NHS) trusts and other organisations delivering healthcare) in the commissioning and provision of postgraduate training under the new LETB/HEE arrangements; with postgraduate medical education and training becoming more closely aligned with the training of other healthcare professionals. Variation in training programmes can be problematic if certain experiences are not available
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