Quality Management of Postgraduate Medical Specialty Training  

Regulation of Postgraduate Medical Education  

In 2007 PMETB (now merged with the GMC), the regulator responsible for postgraduate medical education, published its Quality Framework outlining the responsibilities of those involved in medical training and the quality assurance processes which it will adopt. It covers foundation and all core and specialty training.  

The framework describes the role of the GMC, Postgraduate Deaneries, Local Education Providers, Medical Royal Colleges and Specialist Societies in the quality assurance of higher medical training. The colleges are expected to work closely with all organisations and within the published guidelines to ensure postgraduate medical training is delivered to the high standards expected.  

    The framework centres around: 

• Published standards for training:
• Generic Standards for training
• Standards for Curricula and Assessment Systems
• Standards for Deaneries
• Evidence gathered from various sources comparing training in each centre against the specified standards
• Action plans resulting from any failings identified
• Identification of practice which improves training and incorporating these into the published standards 

The Role of JRCPTB  

JRCPTB monitors the standard of core medical training and of training for the 29 medical specialties on behalf of the three Royal Colleges of Physicians in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London.  

We have 30 Specialty Advisory Committees (SACs) who are actively involved in assisting and supporting Deaneries to manage and improve the quality of education within each of their approved training locations.  

Each SAC draws together experts from Deaneries across the four nations and is comprised of leading consultants, trainees and lay representatives. They are tasked with activities central to the quality of education such as writing the curriculum and assessment systems.  

See the JRCPTB constitution for more information.

Combining their broad national perspective of each specialty with information gathered from internal college sources, data published by the regulator and obtained through regular communication with Training Programme Directors and Lead Deans each SAC produces an Annual Specialty Report (ASR). The ASR highlights concerns affecting the specialty as a whole as well as specific issues with training providers particularly focusing on the delivery of the curriculum. The report also highlights examples of best practice.

    JRCPTB and the SACs are responsible for the following quality management processes:

• Annual review & approval of curricula and assessment systems
• Production of an Annual Specialty Report
• Provision of external advice during Deanery visits to Local Education Providers
• Provision of external advice on ARCP panels
• Provision of advice and support for new training posts and programmes
• Recommendation of trainees eligible for CCT or CESR

These quality management processes compliment those established and run by the GMC and the Deaneries. More information on the Quality Management activities in other organisations can be found on their websites. Visit our Links page for details.