We have launched new quality criteria to enhance the educational experience of trainee doctors, drive up the quality of training environments and ultimately improve patient safety and experience.
Our 2013 survey of trainees in core medical training found that heavy service demands were leading to a loss of training opportunities and a wide variability in the quality of supervision. Some trainees were even put off pursuing a career in the acute medical specialties by their experiences in CMT.
In response, we developed - from a broad consultation involving clinical educators, doctors in training and other key stakeholders - a set of quality criteria to apply to all UK-based CMT environments. The phrase ‘quality criteria’ was adopted to distinguish this educational venture from many other initiatives seeking to raise standards.
CMT quality criteria survey
Training Programme Directors/CMT College Tutors and trainees were surveyed nationally in August/September 2015 on their perception of whether their hospital Trust was meeting the criteria and a report of the results has been published.
Helping trainees to prepare for the medical registrar role
The criteria cover the structure of the programme, its delivery and flexibility, what supervision and other levels of support is available to trainees, and the standards of communications that should be met. Aside from ensuring that the CMT curriculum is covered systematically over the two year programme, the criteria also aim to help ensure trainees develop the required experience and confidence to perform the medical registrar role, which follows CMT.
Developing excellence
Whilst the criteria are aspirational in nature, it is evident that many of them have already been implemented in various locations across the UK. The intention is to develop a culture of excellence in CMT, with all Trusts having at least met the specified ‘core’ criteria by the end of 2016.
Working in partnership
The JRCPTB will distribute and promote the criteria, under the umbrella of the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and in partnership with major stakeholders, in particular Health Education England, NHS Education Scotland, the Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans of the United Kingdom (COPMeD).
2015 launch of CMT quality criteria
The criteria were officially launched on 27 January 2015 to an invited audience including representatives from the Royal Colleges of Physicians, HEE, GMC, LETBs, Specialist Advisory Committees and doctors in training.
Highlights from the launch are available to watch on YouTube.
International conference on physician health 2021: a vision for humanity in medicine
Trainees talk about the CMT quality criteria at the 2021 International Conference on Physician Health: a vision for humanity in medicine.