We are alive and kicking and have upped our game

doi:10.1136/bmj.39199.479479.3A

BMJ 2007;334:915-916 (5 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39199.479479.3A

Letters

Royal colleges and MMC/MTAS

We are alive and kicking and have upped our game

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

Hawkes focuses on the role of the royal colleges in ModernisingMedical Careers (MMC) and the Medical Training Application Service(MTAS).¹ On MTAS, the royal colleges—as Hawkes allows—werepermitted very little influence on its development.

As to upping our game, the colleges have over recent years developednew roles and responsibilities, have modernised their organisations,and have instigated new initiatives to advance medical practicein line with the continued development of healthcare reform.Such work has transformed the agenda of the colleges into oneof proactive engagement with policy makers, of innovation, andof providing patient focused healthcare delivery.

The Academy of Royal Colleges, well placed to bring a unifiedmedical professional view of issues that should be addressed,is developing a broad agenda that reflects continuing changein the nature and delivery of better health and health care,both generally in the UK and abroad, and in the context . . . [Full text of this article]

Carol M Black, chairman

Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, London W1G 8AX

carol.black@aomrc.org.uk