The GMC has accepted a proposal from the Royal College of Anaesthetists for
a four-month module in anaesthesia, pain management and intensive care for
pre-registration house officers. All 135 final year medical students at Ab
erdeen University and all GPs and hospital doctors (608 doctors) in the hig
hland region of Scotland were sent a postal questionnaire asking their opin
ions on this module. Sixty-four per cent of medical students, 39% of hospit
al doctors and 22% of GPs replied. Eighty-three per cent of medical student
s would apply for the module if available. Eighty-eight per cent of doctors
would have found the module useful in their careers. Sixty-seven per cent
of doctors would recommend the module to trainees in their current speciali
ty. This survey demonstrates a high level of support and interest in the mo
dule. This has considerable implications for the organisation of the prereg
istration house officer year.