Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 38
38
Deferred
Paragraph: 138
Improve undergraduate women's health teaching and incentivise specialisation in reproductive healthcare.
Recommendation
The Government should work with the RCOG, RCGP and the GMC to improve the teaching of women’s health at undergraduate level and ensure it is an integral part of medical education for all those seeking a career in healthcare. As part of that work the Government should consider how to better incentivise healthcare professionals to specialise in women’s reproductive health, including making obstetrics and gynaecology a mandatory rotation. This is necessary to address current shortages in this area and to tackle the long waiting lists for gynaecological care. The merits of using of the quality and outcomes framework (QOF) or commissioning for quality and innovation (CQUIN) indicators should be part of its consideration of potential incentives.
Government Response Summary
The government states the GMC, an independent body, is responsible for setting medical standards and curricula, noting that the GMC's new MLA includes women's health topics. It clarifies that obstetrics and gynaecology is already a mandatory undergraduate rotation, and does not address the recommendation to consider new incentives.
Paragraph Reference:
138
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
It is important that healthcare professionals receive the necessary training to provide the best care possible for women with reproductive health conditions. GMC is the regulator of all medical doctors practising in the UK. GMC – rather than the Royal colleges – sets and enforces the standards that all doctors must adhere to, and is responsible for ensuring that medical professionals have the necessary skills and knowledge to join the UK medical register. GMC is independent of government, directly accountable to Parliament and is responsible for operational matters concerning the discharge of its statutory duties. Individual medical schools set their own curricula, which must meet the standards and expected outcomes set by GMC. GMC has introduced the MLA for the majority of incoming doctors, including all medical students graduating from academic year 2024 to 2025 and onwards. Within this assessment are a number of topics relating to women’s health, including: • fibroids • endometriosis • urinary incontinence This will encourage a better understanding of common women’s health problems among all doctors as they start their careers in the UK. Obstetrics and gynaecology is already a mandatory rotation in undergraduate training.