Medical Education

I came back from my hols yesterday. Had a great time and will write more about it later.

Now I need to replenish my coffers so I'm pleased to be able to write this sponsored post about something that really interests me. It's about training for doctors. I was chatting recently to a friend who has been involved in medical training for a long time and now specialises in working with general practitioners (GPs) here in the UK. She was saying how they need more than medical training so I was fascinated to find out about an organisation that provides a variety of courses for doctors in the UK

Consultants have to undergo a rigorous selection process that includes being interviewed by an Advisory Appointment Committee comprising at least six specific types of member, and often several more. They need to present themselves well and can become much more confident after attending a consultant interview course.

In teaching hospitals, the doctors must be able to educate the students. If you have ever been hospitalised, you will know that nine times out of ten, the consultant or registrar will arrive at your bedside with quite an entourage of students who must be told about your condition. The doctors' own medical training doesn't necessarily equip them with the skills to teach others, so a medical teaching course, or a teach the teacher course, could be just what is needed.

Hospitals generally don't have a reputation for good management, a perception that really needs to change in the current climate of criticism and cost cutting in the NHS. The medical management course covers effective communication and negotiation, as well as a variety of skills needed to lead teams, deal with issues and work through service development problems.