Public consultation launched on new draft standards for quality assuring medical education

The Medical Council has launched a public consultation on draft new standards for quality assuring medical education and training in Ireland.

Currently, the Medical Council uses four separate sets of standards to quality assure medical education and training. The Council is reviewing these standards with the aim of developing a single suite of standards and adopting a principles and outcomes-based approach to the continuum of medical education, training, and life-long learning in Ireland.

Ms Aoife Fitzsimons, Head of Quality Improvement, Education and Training with the Medical Council, said:

“This public consultation on these draft standards is the next step in what has been an important and engaging process with our stakeholders”

“A series of focus groups have already been held with key stakeholders, and their feedback helped to further shape the new draft standards. We would now like to invite members of the public to participate in this public consultation and review the new draft quality standards and criteria for medical education and training.”

Ms Úna O’Rourke, Director of Education and Training with the Medical Council said: “The input from our stakeholders at this stage of development is vital for us to get an understanding of whether the new draft standards and criteria are aligned to our shared aim of driving improvement in the quality of medical education and training.”

“Once approved, the new standards will be a key regulatory tool as we embark on a journey to transform the way in which medical education and training is quality assured.

“The standards used by the Medical Council to quality assure medical education and training need to evolve so that they are compatible with the modern regulatory framework we wish to develop. We will build our new regulatory system around the standards to support their implementation. They will also support a more strategic, targeted and proportionate approach to how we regulate. The new framework will see a greater emphasis on collaboration in our regulatory role, something which we will all welcome in working to achieve our shared goals.”

Prof Mary O’Sullivan, Chair of the Council’s Education and Training Committee, added: “Each phase in a doctor’s education and training is part of a continuum, so the same principles should apply. Developing a single suite of standards will enable all of us to take a consistent approach in our contribution to the continuum of medical education for undergraduate through to specialist training.”

The consultation documents are available at www.medicalcouncil.ie/public-information/public-consultations/. This consultation closes on Wednesday 5 October 2022.