§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made by his Department in ensuring a review of general practitioner training in psychiatry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonIt is for the appropriate professional bodies, and not the Department, to review the content of training for general practice. Experience in psychiatry is recommended by the General Medical Council which has responsibility for overseeing the content of undergraduate medical education, and features in all undergraduate medical courses. Psychiatry is also an option in the mandatory two years of hospital experience which forms part of vocational training for general practice.92W Established general practitioners decide how best to keep their knowledge up to date and have access to a wide range of continuing educational courses and activities.