Will we be getting good doctors and safer patients?

doi:10.1136/bmj.39136.431343.AD

BMJ 2007;334:450-451 (3 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.39136.431343.AD

Feature

Will we be getting good doctors and safer patients?

Bernard Ribeiro, president

Royal College of Surgeons of England, London WC2A 3PE

etowell@rcseng.ac.uk

Last week, the Department of Health announced its plans forreforming regulation of doctors. The BMJ asked some of thoseaffected for their opinions

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

I welcome the white paper on medical regulation and am particularlypleased that the proposal for periodic revalidation is underpinnedby a strengthened role for the medical royal colleges. In anticipationof this report my college, in collaboration with the surgicalspecialist associations, has been working towards a set of underlyingprinciples and general criteria we believe should apply in therecertification of surgeons, and we will now be developing thespecific standards against which individuals should be assessed.This enhanced role will consolidate our commitment to safetyand the highest standards of surgical care for our patients.

The revised proposals relating to the role of regional GeneralMedical Council affiliates are welcome, as is the strengthenedrole for trust medical directors. Training of these people iscritical, and the white paper acknowledges that a high levelof investment is needed to establish and maintain effectivearrangements.

The introduction of . . . [Full text of this article]

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