WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR DOCTORS AND PATIENTS?

14 May 2008

A new Royal College of Physicians' working party will look to identify more clearly the roles and responsibilities of both doctors and patients in the UK health care system of the future - a system subject to substantial change, and one that will put a premium on quality, outcomes, and experience. Responding to issues raised in the RCP/King's Fund report 'Understanding doctors: harnessing professionalism', and final recommendation 5* in Sir John Tooke's report on MMC, the working party will seek to provide clarity to the doctor's role. The draft working party remit is:

To define the contours of society within which health care will be delivered over a generation.

To identify the influence on the roles and responsibilities of doctors of substantial demographic change, technological advance, and greater patient choice and engagement in health - with doctors as part of a complex team at the heart of the health care system.

In order to provide continuity with the College's previous work on medical professionalism, the working party will be chaired by Baroness Cumberlege, supported by RCP President Professor Ian Gilmore, with Dr Richard Horton as report author. Working methods will be similar to those one used for medical professionalism - a small working party, an intensive period of work, and evidence from key witnesses, culminating in a report in 2009.

We would like to invite you to join us for an informal briefing on the working party, followed by a drinks reception on Tuesday 27th May at 5.30 pm. RSVP to RCP PR Manager Linda Cuthbertson on 020 7935 1174 ext.254, Linda.cuthbertson@rcplondon.ac.uk.

* Final recommendation 5:

There needs to be a common shared understanding of the roles of all doctors in the comtemporary healthcare team that takes due account of public expectations. Given the interdependency of professional constituents of the comtemporary multiprofessional healthcare team we suggest a similar analysis extends to other healthcare professional groupings. Clarity of the doctor's role must extend to the service contribution of the doctor in training, doctors currently contributing as locums, staff grades and associated specialists, the CCT holder, the GP and the consultant. Such issues need to be urgently considered by key stakeholders. Notwithstanding the need to keep such a key issue under constant review, stakeholders should seek to reach a public consensus before the end of 2008, so important is the issue for current NHS reform.

Education and training need to support the development of the redefined roles for each professional grouping and provide the necessary educational foundations to enable them to practise safely and effectively, and to aspire to enhanced roles.

Ref: http://www.mmcinquiry.org.uk/Final_8_Jan_08_MMC_all.pdf

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