Trainees issue joint statement on Shape of Training

04 Nov 2014

The trainees committees of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Royal College of Physicians of London, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Scottish Academy of Trainee Doctors’ Group have issued a joint statement on Shape of Training.

With a focus on high quality patient care, the trainees say they welcome many aspects of the Shape of Training review including:

• Broad-based training programmes in the early years of training
• Apprenticeship-based training
• Transferable competencies
• Greater flexibility during training

However, the trainees also say that the proposals put forward in the Shape of Training review will not solve the current problem at the front door of medicine.

They say, "If we get this wrong it will have a disastrous impact on the future recruitment of doctors, and therefore patient care." They say that in order to ensure high quality and safe care for patients, it is essential to:

• Train doctors capable of delivering high quality patient care
• Ensure workforce sustainability
• Properly evaluate proposed changes prior to implementation
• Avoid creation of a two-tier training system
• Ensure stability and security for existing trainees

The full statement can be accessed here.

Information about the Shape of Training Review can be found at www.shapeoftraining.co.uk.

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