A BPA SURVEY OF RECENTLY APPOINTED CONSULTANTS

A postal survey of recently appointed consultant paediatricians was un dertaken to determine whether they perceived their training had adequa tely equipped them for their current job. The response rate was 69% (2 07/299). After excluding replies from consultants trained outside the UK the analysis was carried out on 167 replies. Trainees held a mean 5 .2 posts during general and higher professional training, necessitatin g a mean 1.8 house moves. Altogether 82% felt moves were beneficial to training but 46% found moves 'very disruptive' to family Life. Only 1 2% of district general hospital and 22% of teaching hospital senior re gistrars took two research sessions a week. Supervision and training i n research was absent or poor for more than 60%; 24% felt major change s and 55% moderate changes were needed to current training. Training i n non-clinical skills was particularly in demand and a curriculum for both trainers and trainees with regular appraisals is required. Resear ch at senior registrar level needs review and educational methods impr oved to achieve better training in a shorter period.