Patients 'put at risk by poorly trained doctors'

URGENT action is needed to make sure junior doctors in Scotland are properly trained to reduce potential risks to patients, medical leaders have warned.

The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) has developed a "Charter for Medical Training" in the hope of plugging gaps in the education of medics caused by pressures on their time and that of the consultants supervising them.

It follows a warning from the college ahead of the Scottish election that Scotland was at risk of creating a generation of poorly-trained doctors that could affect the standards of care given to patients.

RCPE president Dr Neil Dew-hurst said the Scottish Government, health boards and training organisations needed to recognise the problems and commit to take action on their charter.

In March, the college said there were too few doctors - both trainees and consultants - and young medics were having to fill gaps in hospital rotas at the expense of their training.