The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) recently launched a new mentoring scheme for core medical trainees (CMTs). The new scheme, which will concentrate on CMT members of the RCP, aims to provide support to CMTs during what is often a busy period in their professional lives.
Doctors in CMT have already completed a 2 year foundation training programme after graduating, and are typically 26-28 years old. They see a wide variety of patients to give broad experience of the diagnosis and management of common medical conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, liver and kidney failure, asthma, epileptic seizures and conditions such as arthritis and diabetes.
A recent RCP survey found that 90% of respondents said that service provision took up 80-100% of their time, leaving very little time for training. CMT doctors were also concerned about the amount and quality of consultant feedback, and the length and frequency of meetings with their educational supervisors, with most respondents wishing for longer and more frequent meetings. The new scheme plans to provide crucial support in these areas flagged up as a concern for doctors in CMT.
The mentors are usually specialty trainees (from ST3 upwards) and consultants across a broad range of specialties and geographical locations throughout the UK. The scheme aims to provide the opportunity for CMTs to work with and learn from senior colleagues, who are not their direct clinical or educational supervisor, whilst also providing fresh insight for both the trainee and mentor in their particular fields.
Commencing in October 2014, the scheme will run for 6 months with the opportunity to extend in future.
On the launch of the new mentoring scheme Dr Catherine Mathews, RCP Careers fellow said:
I am delighted that the RCP is introducing a new mentoring scheme for those undertaking core medical training (CMT). Such a scheme will provide welcome support during what is often a busy time, enabling honest and reflective dialogue that will ultimately focus on the trainee’s career and personal goals. It is also worth noting that such schemes provide great insight for mentors - assisting them to reflect on their own work; build their leadership and guidance skills whilst supporting colleagues in their professional development.
The RCP has initially chosen to focus this scheme on CMTs, however there are hopes to widen this out in future.
For more information, please contact Morgan Evans, RCP communications and new media adviser, on 020 3075 1468 / 0779 508 8253, or email Morgan.Evans@rcplondon.ac.uk