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I quite agree with all the points identified by A Frizelle and Angus
Watson in their letter "How protective is the working time directive?: New
Zealand is still dealing with the issues 20 years on...", BMJ 2004; 329:
574-a.
However, the problem of deciding how many doctors
are needed still remains unsolved and how should we prepare the new doctors to the Consultant
level challenges. Is, then, the training meant to become any longer? And
as a direct consequence of that, should we rethink the typically
"gerarchic ladder" of the medical profession?
But, first of all: how many doctors are enough? I would be personally
tempted to answer: as many as possible, as far as we are able to offer
them an appropriate training.
Instead, it seems to me that the time left to the Senior Grades to educate
Junior Grades is actually progressively decreasing.
Redesigning training positions
Sir,
I quite agree with all the points identified by A Frizelle and Angus
Watson in their letter "How protective is the working time directive?: New
Zealand is still dealing with the issues 20 years on...", BMJ 2004; 329:
574-a.
However, the problem of deciding how many doctors
are needed still remains unsolved and how should we prepare the new doctors to the Consultant
level challenges. Is, then, the training meant to become any longer? And
as a direct consequence of that, should we rethink the typically
"gerarchic ladder" of the medical profession?
But, first of all: how many doctors are enough? I would be personally
tempted to answer: as many as possible, as far as we are able to offer
them an appropriate training.
Instead, it seems to me that the time left to the Senior Grades to educate
Junior Grades is actually progressively decreasing.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests