A system for maintaining the educational and training standards of junior doctors

The development of junior doctors' competence is complex because the hospital environment in which doctors work places many demands on them. The need for quality education and training and personal development may be in direct conflict with the service commitments required from hospitals. This paper describes the methods by which the Postgraduate Medical Council of New South Wales, Australia, addresses the needs of junior doctors in the state in order to improve the quality of their education. Key elements of the Council's function include the provision of hospital clinical supervisors who oversee junior doctor education and training, and central involvement in supplying the junior doctor workforce to all state hospitals who must meet defined accreditation standards. This paper also provides data on evaluation of those methods and some educational outcomes.