THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CLINICAL SKILLS CENTER

Guidelines produced by the General Medical Council of Great Britain ha ve emphasised the importance of the development of the skills and atti tudes appropriate for a junior doctor. Medical schools are in the proc ess of reforming their curricula accordingly. The development of these skills is made increasingly difficult by changes such as short admiss ions to hospital, increased care in the community, and reduced resourc es. This article outlines the development of a clinical skills centre as a multidisciplinary unit to improve clinical skills teaching with t he aid of up-to-date technology and educational practices. By sharing our experience we aim to provide a practical guide for the development of such units in other medical and nursing colleges.