Patricia Hamilton

Core surgical training and progression into specialty surgical training: how do we get the balance right?

Doctors training in surgery in England usually complete a two-year core surgical training programme (CT1 and CT2) and then apply for entry into a surgical specialty training programme at ST3. This is a highly competitive process. Currently, ST3 is the only level of entry into specialty training and all doctors wishing to obtain a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in a surgical specialty must apply for ST3 posts, irrespective of their previous surgical experience. Consequently, doctors who apply for ST3 entry directly from core surgical training find themselves competing against doctors with considerably more surgical experience.

Teaching child health in the occupied Palestinian territory.

with the support of the UKs Department for International Development showed that there would be a greater effect on child health if the focus was primary care, because most children first see health professionals at this level. We recognised a considerable difference in local needs which made the UK Diploma (aimed at general practitioners in the UK) not ideal for purpose in this context. Hence it was agreed between the partners (RCPCH, Palestinian Ministry of Health, Medical Aid for Palestinians, and the Department for International Development) that there would be an educational programme directed towards improving the quality of primary child-health care through the training of doctors and nurses from Palestinian, UN, and non-governmental organisations. An educational model was mapped out in partnership with local tutors and a course to train the trainers was provided for all of the tutors.

Recruitment to specialty training in 2012

Patricia Hamilton, director of Medical Education England, reviews the application processes for medical specialty training in 2012

Recruitment to medical specialty training in 2011

Patricia Hamilton, director of Medical Education England, talks about the application processes for medical specialty training in 2011