To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) Health Education
England, (2) NHS Education for Scotland, (3) Health Education and Improvement Wales,
and (4) Health and Social Care Northern Ireland, about promoting the study of rheumatology
within (a) the undergraduate, (b) postgraduate, and (c) professional training, medical
community.
<p>The Government has not included any requirement in its Mandate to Health Education
England (HEE) with regards to promoting rheumatology training.</p><p>Undergraduate
medical students and foundation doctors receive career guidance throughout their training
to help them in their choice of subsequent career speciality. This enables them to
consider what they would be best suited to and what career opportunities exist within
the National Health Service. This includes career fairs, which may be meetings or
virtual, when colleges and societies are available to give more detail on the own
specialties. For rheumatology this will include the British Association of Rheumatology.</p><p>HEE
manages the recruitment process for postgraduate training programmes in medicine.
In 2018, 100% of the 50 rheumatology specialty training posts available were filled.
The number of training posts appointed to is agreed each year in balance with all
the other training posts required. These include training posts in general practice,
where most rheumatological conditions are managed primarily or jointly in primary
care settings.</p><p>Healthcare education, training and recruitment in Wales, Northern
Ireland and Scotland is a matter for the devolved administrations in each nation.</p>
