Women will be a key focus of medical training review, says Dacre

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By Adele Waters

The current training system for doctors does not provide adequate support for women and addressing it will be a priority in the ongoing major review of medical training, its independent chair has said.

Speaking at the BMA Medical Academic Staff Committee (MASC) conference (12 June), Professor Dame Jane Dacre said with the majority of those on the medical register being women, training for doctors needed to adapt.

“Unless we create a concept that allows people to work flexibly, as in part time, and thrive, we're going to be in trouble,” she said.

Dacre was appointed by NHS England as independent chair of the review in March following a first phase, which was completed last year by the Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty, and former National Medical Director at NHS England, Professor Stephen Powis.

It made 11 recommendations for change, including the need to address training bottlenecks, review rotation and reform training urgently.