RCPCH responds to GMC's National Training Survey

RCPCH President says paediatricians are finding it hard to find the time to learn and develop their skills and are experiencing high levels of stress and exhaustion - "it cannot be right."

High quality on-the-job training for doctors in the UK could be at risk if tell-tale warning signs in the workplace go unheeded, says the General Medical Council (GMC).

In its National Training Survey, the GMC says poor handovers and inductions, and gaps in rotas, should be seen by employers as indicators of more significant problems that can affect the quality of trainee doctors’ education and development.

The survey published today, collates the views and experiences of more than 70,000 doctors in training and senior doctors who act as trainers.

It found that while trainers and training organisations continue to provide high quality medical education, trainees rated their experience as worse when they had poor handovers, inadequate inductions and gaps in rotas.

In response to the publication of this national training survey, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), Professor Russell Viner, said:

It cannot be right that doctors who treat and care for children and young people are experiencing such high levels of stress, exhaustion and burn out. As the GMC’s survey points out, paediatricians are among the specialties where trainees are finding it hard to find the time to learn and develop their skills, and they are reporting above average workloads and tiredness.

Our members love working in paediatrics and find it a rewarding career, but there are simply not enough doctors to meet demand. This means they are working in challenging environments leading to low morale and exhaustion.  This is not good for their health or for the health of their young patients.