Training policies & regulations
Most of the regulations and procedures which apply to higher specialist training are found in A Guide to Specialist Registrar Training , informally known as the Orange Book, produced by the NHS Executive.
It is available on the Department of Health website or by fax on 01937 845 381.
All specialties in the UK must adhere to the requirements set out in this volume and use the Forms A-G, which are given in it. Further clarification of specific requirements may be obtained from the postgraduate deans.
Training Departments
Each region and Training Department has a written training policy which prescribes the structure of an acceptable training programme and/or location. This policy will include:
- arrangements for academic and service supervision,
- provision for trainer development,
- facilities expected in a training location,
- induction programmes for new trainees,
- requirements for learning frameworks (contracts),
- on-call arrangements,
- opportunities for external attachments,
- arrangements for rotation between training locations,
- study leave,
- and performance assessment and review processes.
Regulatory bodies
The Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) awards the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT). It also awards other certificates required by the European Medical Directive on the recommendations of its constituent Colleges and Faculties.
The General Medical Council (GMC) is responsible for maintaining registers of qualified doctors, including the Specialist Register , for disciplining those guilty of professional misconduct and for co-ordinating all stages of medical education.
The UK Voluntary Register for Public Health Specialists (UKVRPHS) was established in May 2003 as an independent multidisciplinary register to protect public health by ensuring that only competent public health professionals are registered and that high standards of practice are maintained.
National Training Number (NTN)
Trainees who have been appointed to a substantive training post will be issued a unique training number by the postgraduate dean. This is their National Training Number (NTN).
There are variations on this number for trainees in particular categories; e.g. those in fixed-term specialist training appointments (FTSTA), an FTN, and those on research programmes, an RTN.
Dual Accreditation
There are at present no dual accreditation programmes in public health (medicine). The key point with such programmes is that they must be in place when the trainee commences training.