11. Consultations

The following senior doctors were consulted about attributes of competence and judgement, recent changes in postgraduate medical education and current issues of concern.

• Dr Justin Allen, Examiner for MRCGP and Secretary of the Joint Education Committee.

• Professor James Drife, (Leeds University), Junior Vice President Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Member of GMC Education Committee.

• Professor George du Boulay CBE, Emeritus Professor of Neurology at the Institute of Neurology.

• Dr Dennis Eraut, Chair of HST panel for Respiratory Medicine, North East Thames Region.

• Dr Noushin Farhoumand, Clinical Tutor in Psychiatry, South Downs Health NHS Trust.

• Dr Richard Gray, Associate Dean for General Practice, South Thames Region.

• Dr Neville Harrison, Associate Dean (surgery) South Thames Region.

• Dr Roger Neighbour, convenor for MRCGP examination.

• Dr Andrew Polmear, Trafford Centre for Medical Research, University of Sussex (concerned with Evidence-Based Medicine in Primary Care).

• Professor Lesley Southgate (CHIME, University College London), Leader of group who developed and are now implementing GMC Performance Procedures.

• Professor Richard Vincent, Director of Trafford Centre for Medical Research, University of Sussex and Consultant Cardiologist, Brighton Health Care.

• Professor Watson, (UMDS, London), Royal College of Psychiatry.

In addition, leading medical education researchers from Canada, U.S. and the Netherlands were consulted about research into Postgraduate Medical Education at conferences in April 1998 and April 1999 in the U.S. and Canada (not at DoH expense); and their publications and citations were followed up. Also in April 1998, a 2 day visit was made to North Dakota Medical School to study their residency programmes and gain sufficient background knowledge to properly interpret North American research literature on the education of residents.