Briefing

The government has proposed changes to the transitional arrangements for entry to the specialist register. If implemented, these would affect specialists who are neither in substantive consultant posts, nor in accredited training posts.

The timetable for the transitional arrangements has changed. Doctors who wish to be assessed for entry on to the specialist register now have until 1 April 1998 to apply to the Specialist Training Authority (STA) for inclusion; the STA will then have until 1 August 1998 to complete any assessments.

This will enable the STA to take a more flexible approach in its assessments: it may recognise experience gained in career grade posts, and may also recommend further training as a result of its assessments.

Should this indicate that the doctor would be eligible for inclusion on to the register after an additional period of training of less than one year, that doctor can apply to the General Medical Council for conditional inclusion on the specialist register. The GMC will then retain the application, and enter the doctor on the register once he or she has completed the training that has been undertaken at the recommendation of the STA.

All such training must be completed and appropriate evidence provided to the GMC by 1 September 2001, a deadline which should allow those affected to make arrangements to complete the training, and complete it on a flexible basis, should they wish to do so. The amendments also specifically forbid trainees from daisychaining periods of type II (fixed term) training, then applying for a certificate of completion of specialist training; and recognises the newly formed Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health for full membership of the STA.