BMJ  2004;329:230 (24 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7459.230-b

Letter

Firm foundation for senior house officers

Quality assurance programme needs to be in place

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—The development of a medical workforce with a wider range of general medical competencies is a highly desirable target. However, proposing a shorter specialist training period raises the fear of inappropriate development of specialist competencies at the end of the "run through" period. Gallen and Peile's article about incomplete work on the development of tasks, such as curriculum development, competency framework, and assessment methods, highlights another worrying development.1

Learning opportunities for work based learning depend on the way in which work is organised and allocated, and that in turn depends on prevailing assumptions about the competence of the people concerned.2 To establish a competency based training system, core competencies of educational supervisors also need to be established and supported.

The end point of improved patient care can be realised only if competent supervisors and a robust quality assurance system support the foundation programme.

Rafey A Faruqui, specialist registrar

Charing Cross Higher Training Scheme, West London Mental Health NHS Trust, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB1 3EU rafey.faruqui@imperial.ac.uk

Alia Faruqui, student in epidemiology (principles and practice)

External Programme, University of London, London WC1E 7HU

Competing interests: AF is hoping . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

A firm foundation for senior house officers
Derek Gallen and Ed Peile
BMJ 2004 328: 1390-1391. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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