National Debate for Healthcare Training

Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry (PU PSMD) has taken a national lead on the debate around how the healthcare professionals of the future are trained. A round table debate, initiated by PU PSMD and held at Westminster, was the focus of the HSJ report. Taking part in the round table were some of the UK’s leading health policy experts, thought leaders, local politicians and representatives from PU PSMD. The debate covered several areas, including: training healthcare professionals with the right values; preparing those in training for working in an ever-changing NHS; ensuring that training is multidisciplinary, and that the various health professions learn to work with each other from an early stage; training healthcare professionals who are able to care for a growing number of patients with more than one illness; the changing mix of skill sets and health professions in the future; and the need for leadership, excellent clinical and non-clinical skills; and flexibility. The issues raised by the round table debate highlighted areas where PU PSMD is getting it right. Both medical and dental students are exposed to the realities of working in the NHS and with patients from an early stage in their studies. Students spend time gaining experience with a wide range of healthcare professionals across the region, from consultants on hospital wards to GP and dental surgeries.