Department of Health and Social Care
 Printable version
|
 E-mail this to a friend
|
Government responds to independent review of modernising medical careers - Revised Version
Revised Version
The Department of Health today published its formal response to Sir John Tooke's independent review of Modernising Medical Careers (MMC).
The former Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, announced the review in April last year in response to difficulties with specialty training recruitment in 2007. The review was tasked with examining a number of areas, including the extent to which MMC engaged the medical profession, as well as making recommendations to ensure MMC had the support of the medical profession in the future.
Sir John published his interim findings in October 2007. He then published his final, more substantial report Aspiring for Excellence on January 8th 2008. This included 47 individual recommendations and the Department's response has considered how best to move forward on these. Many recommendations have received a direct response, while others require further consideration.
We are working with the stakeholders to put in place a timeline for moving forward on the recommendations over the next few years. In doing so we are clear that not only do we make progress, but also in line with the approach that Sir John has commended to us, on the basis of plans that are built on early concesus about the approach to doing so, built on sound evidence.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson said:
"Sir John's report marks a significant step forward in ensuring excellence and high achievement remain at the heart of medical education and training in this country.
"We are accepting most of his recommendations in full and have already acted to clarify our policy of self-sufficiency by introducing new immigration rules to restrict overseas doctors who wish to train in the UK.
"Some of the more substantial recommendations, such as proposals for an independent body to oversee medical education and training, require further careful consideration. This will take time, particularly if we are to meet Sir John's own tests that policy should be evidence-based, carefully tested and taken forward in consultation with the profession. We must not repeat old mistakes."
Notes to editors
1. The Department of Health's response to Aspiring for Excellence: Final report of the independent inquiry into Modernising Medical Careers can be found on the DH website: http://www.dh.gov.uk
[ENDS]
