§ Baroness Gould of Potternewtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have for modernising Unfinished Business: Proposals for Reform of the Senior House Officer grade. [HL1842]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathWe have today placed in the Library copies ofModernising Medical Careers, the response of the four UK health Ministers to the 26WA consultation on Unfinished Business: Proposals for Reform of the Senior House Officer grade.
The document sets out the results of our consultation which began last summer on the reform of training for senior house officers, who are doctors in the early stages of their specialist training. We received over 250 responses to our consultation and our proposals were broadly welcomed. The document we are publishing today sets the way ahead based on the results of the consultation and work which has been done since with the key stakeholders.
Plans for reform will also extend to general practice training and will embrace the existing non-consultant career grades with easier routes back into training. Partnerships will work to test these out in a variety of National Health Service environments. Pilot projects will start later on this year and with major implementation following in 2004.