§ Alistair BurtTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to take steps to allow doctors to have experience gained in associate specialist posts taken into account in their progression to consultancy level; and if he will make a statement. [64613]
§ Mr. HuttonWe have consulted on proposals to amend the European Specialist Qualifications Order (1995), to enable the Specialist Training Authority of the Medical Royal Colleges to take training, as well as qualifications, into account when assessing doctors for entry to the specialist register. There was strong support for our proposals from the medical profession and the amended legislation is currently being prepared. The proposed amendment is designed to facilitate entry to the specialist register for doctors working in the national health service, and may be of benefit to doctors in the non-consultant career grade posts.
We did not specifically consult on the inclusion of experience gained outside formal training posts, as criteria for entry to the specialist register, for the current amendment. However, some responses to consultation indicated that we should consider the inclusion of experience. We accept that there needs to be a proper debate about the issue and we are considering taking forward work to look at the appropriateness of including experience in the longer term. We would not introduce retrospectively approved experience as a criterion for entry to the specialist register without a full debate and consultation about the appropriateness of this with the medical profession.