2010 for Medical Students in Wales

In 2010, the Welsh Medical Schools Committee (WMSC) will be working hard to forge better standards for medical students across a broad range of tough issues. Our priorities include improving standards of education and reducing the financial burden on medical students.

In September 2009, Swansea medical school welcomed its first cohort that will complete all four years of the graduate entry programme at Swansea University. As the course evolves and grows, so too does the WMSC. We have one of the strongest committees I have had the fortune to be a part of so I have great optimism for a successful year.

Last year Cardiff University appointed a new Dean of Medicine. Over the course of the year we hope to build a strong working relationship with him with the goal of improving education and administration for medical students. The work we have done together so far has been very encouraging and we are very grateful for his frankness and willingness to discuss our concerns. The change in administration and exam mark processing protocols are of paramount importance, as we never want to see a repeat of last year's debacle.

Financial issues are a continuous cause for concern for medical students. The average debt upon graduating is approximately £37,000 and with the proposed lift of the cap on tuition fees as well as the reform of the NHS bursary system this could lead to student debt mounting even further. This not only penalises students across the board but will almost certainly disproportionally reduce applications from students of a lower socio-economic background. This is unacceptable. As the WMSC we are in the unique position to lobby for a fairer system that will benefit medical students across Wales. We also hope to implement initiatives to encourage Widening Participation.

We look forward to working with you and for you.

Tom Combellack
WMSC Chair 2009/2010

New award to honour GPs and Consultants in Wales

Just to highlight to our members - a new initiative by Cardiff University - to honour Wales’ best medical supervisor or trainer.

The Wales Deanery Best Educational Supervisor and Trainer (BEST) Awards 2009 have been launched by the University’s School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education. They have been set up to honour GPs and Consultants who have shown excellence in the role of Educational Supervisor of Postgraduate Medicine in Wales.

Any Welsh doctor in training has until mid September to nominate who they think are some of the best medical educational supervisors in Wales. They can nominate Welsh GPs or Consultants, who they believe have performed outstandingly either primary care or secondary care.

Such awards are a great idea, illustrating how medical educational supervisors and trainers play a vital role in delivering high quality training programmes for doctors entering the profession and encouraging more trainees to look to Wales to work and live.

More information about the awards is available from Cardiff University.

Juniors affected by exams mix up need our support

This really is an awful situation that these four young people are currently faced with and it’s very difficult to imagine how they must be feeling right now. That’s why BMA Cymru Wales will be doing everything possible to offer as much help and support as we can to get them through this.

Rest assured too, we will be seeking answers as to how such a fundamental error occurred and what changes will be made to make sure such serious mistakes are not repeated. However, at this moment in time, the key focus of our efforts is to ensure that those involved receive all the support we can provide.

New look for Careers Website

I just wanted to highlight the new Wales Deanery website, which is now taking shape, as part of the Cardiff University Uniweb upgrade. There has been a great deal of change in the shape and scope of medical career pathways over the past few years and the need for up-to-date information has grown.

Everyone from medical students, though to the later stages of training, needs information and signposts to relevant, career development resources. And consultants who support trainees as part of their educational supervisor role need to keep on top of best practice techniques to help trainees reflect on their career plans, options and strategies to deal with changes, to plan accordingly.

With this in mind, all previous content was abandoned and the Careers website section now has two parts containing:
- information and resources for doctors
- information and resources for those giving front line career support

Resources for doctors are organised to guide users through four key stages of career planning:
1. Self assessment (Taking a history)
2. Career Exploration (Examination)
3. Decision making (Diagnosis)
4. Plan implementation (Treatment plan)
Why not take a look for yourself!