A Celebration of 150 years of the Medical Act

Background

2007 was a watershed for the medical profession with thousands of doctors marching through the streets in protest at the mis-handled modernization of postgraduate medical education and training which revealed a lack of clarity about the doctor’s role. In the resultant Independent Inquiry, Sir John Tooke, Chair of the Medical Schools Council, called for the profession to speak with a coherent voice and to reach consensus on the Role of the Doctor by the end of 2008.        

Steering Committee

The profession heeded this call and a steering committee drawn from the leaders of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the Association of UK University Hospitals, the British Medical Association, the Departments of Health, the General Medical Council, The King’s Fund, the Medical Schools Council, NHS Employers and PMETB, worked together to define what characterises the doctors’ contribution.  

The conference

A conference held in October at The Royal Society, London - attended by a cross section of clinicians (including the four Chief Medical Officers and the Chief Nursing Officer) and by an equal number of non-medical people, including representatives from patient groups - provided the basis for the statement. Communications continued after the two day conference via email to all delegates and meetings of the steering committee to reach a consensus on the role of the doctor.

The final consensus statement is now available to download

Role of Doctor Consensus Statement.pdf

If you would like more information on the Role of the Doctor: Past, Present and Future conference please visit our Meetings and Conferences page