The Royal College of Physicians has responded to the GMC's annual equality, diversity and inclusion progress report, which found welcome progress in some postgraduate measures but continued inequalities in how prepared doctors feel at the start of their careers.
Dr Dan Furmedge, RCP vice president for education and training, said:
‘This report shows welcome progress in some important areas. Over the longer term, gaps across several measures of postgraduate specialty training have narrowed for internationally qualified and UK-qualified ethnic minority doctors, alongside continued progress towards fairer referrals of doctors by employers to the GMC. But progress is not uniform - in the latest specialty exam data, the gap narrowed for UK ethnic minority doctors but widened between UK and internationally qualified doctors.
‘Significant inequalities remain, and the persistent gap in how prepared doctors feel when they begin their careers is particularly concerning. Progress in one part of the training pathway cannot compensate for disadvantage becoming established earlier on.
‘Fairness in medical training and assessment requires sustained practical action from the whole system. Royal colleges have an important part to play, alongside employers, educators and training organisations, in ensuring doctors have access to high-quality induction, mentoring, exam preparation and feedback, and fair opportunities to progress.
‘International medical graduates make an essential contribution to the NHS, and every doctor should have the support and opportunity to develop their career and fulfil their potential. These findings show that change is possible, but there is clearly much more to do to ensure that progress is sustained and felt by all doctors throughout their careers.'