Wales has become the first place in the UK to adopt a groundbreaking approach to vital medical training.
The new development aims to enhance standards of patient care and safety by raising the visibility of medical trainers and recognising their crucial role in supporting students and trainees.
The All Wales Medical Trainer Agreement (Secondary Care and Undergraduate Education), which has just been launched, has been developed by Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) in collaboration with Cardiff University School of Medicine and Swansea University Medical School. The initiative is another important contribution to the Welsh Government’s Train.Work.Live campaign, which promotes Wales as an outstanding location for individuals to forge careers in healthcare.
The Agreement clearly defines the role, responsibilities and rights of individual medical trainers, HEIW, medical schools and NHS Wales health boards and trusts, contributing to greater consistency and transparency in the provision of education and training across Wales.
HEIW Medical Director, Prof Pushpinder Mangat, said: “I am delighted with the launch of the All Wales Medical Trainer Agreement (Secondary Care and Undergraduate Education). Wales is the first in the UK to adopt this single harmonised approach to recognition of trainers, demonstrating our commitment to collaboration across medical education and training in Wales.
“We believe that this Agreement will raise the profile of trainer roles and recognition of their contribution to supporting students, supervising trainees and providing a supportive learning environment across NHS Wales. This improvement in the quality of training and supervision will lead to improved patient safety and enhanced quality of patient care.”
Incorporating the trainer roles in secondary care and undergraduate education subject to General Medical Council recognition, the Agreement is fundamental in meeting education organisers’ responsibilities and recognising trainers’ status in Wales.
Prof Stephen Riley, Dean of Medical Education, Cardiff University School of Medicine, said: “The provision of medical education in Wales brings together the NHS, the Universities and now HEIW. This agreement strengthens this collaboration and recognises the commitment of clinicians to developing the next generation of doctors in Wales.”
Prof Andrew Grant, Head of Graduate Entry Medicine at Swansea University Medical School, added: “By developing the agreement it’s acknowledged that many clinicians are involved in medical education both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Having to only sign the agreement once also reduces the burden of regulation.”
To make the approach as easy as possible to use, a new online system - Trainer Agreement Gateway (TAG) - has been developed. The system will also offer ease of monitoring and reporting to the General Medical Council.
ENDS
Notes to Editor