§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve awareness of rehabilitation issues among trainee doctors. [11311]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 31 October 2002]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.
The content and standard of postgraduate medical training is the responsibility of the UK competent authorities, the Specialist Training Authority (STA) for specialist medicine and, for general practice, the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice (JCPTGP). They are responsible for setting quality standards in postgraduate medical education and practice. They are independent of the Department of Health.
In addition, the General Medical Council's Education Committee has the general function of promoting high standards of medical education. The committee also co-ordinates all stages of medical education, to ensure that students and newly qualified doctors are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential for professional practice.