The General Medical Council (GMC) has conducted two surveys of doctors in training; one to assess trainees’ concerns about patient safety, and one to investigate undermining and bullying in the workplace.
Commenting on the two surveys published by the GMC, chair of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) Trainees Committee, Dr Ruth Dobson, said:
We are pleased that doctors in the early stages of their training continue to raise patient safety concerns; we must ensure they continue to do so throughout their careers. Robert Francis QC highlighted trainees are the "eyes and ears of the service" and there must be mechanisms for them to raise and escalate concerns.
The GMC survey highlights that bullying and undermining remains a significant problem for many doctors in training. This can be difficult to deal with locally and the RCP is exploring mechanisms to support trainees, especially those in more senior roles, to address such problems.
As part of the RCP’s response to the Francis Inquiry, we are piloting a series of ‘regional conversation’ events that will provide hospital doctors at all levels a safe space to raise concerns which the RCP can take forward at a national level.
The RCP Trainees Committee is interested in hearing from trainees about how best the RCP can support trainees in raising concerns. If you have ideas, suggestions or comments, please email trainees.committee@rcplondon.ac.uk.
For media enquiries, please contact RCP public affairs manager, Andrew McCracken, on +44 (0)203 075 1354 / 07990 745 608, or email andrew.mccracken@rcplondon.ac.uk