Abstract
Dr Jonathan Osborne's open letter to Royal Colleges’ presidents roundly denounced the Royal Colleges in his analysis and perception of their acquiescence to Government and the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) (JRSM 2006;
This Society's decision to support Osborne was taken following careful consideration of his tightly argued case and, we submit, the less than persuasive response by Dr Alan Craft in his capacity as Chairman of the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges. Croft dismisses Osborne's accusation of being ‘led by Government’ by claiming that the Royal Colleges ‘are taking a leading role.’ But this is immediately undermined by his then referring to these ‘inevitable reforms’ and further declaring ‘we do not necessarily agree with all the [Government] pressure put upon us’(JRSM 2006;
Craft cites the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) as another supporting reason for his advocated changes. Medical pressure on Government by a vigorous, notionally self-regulated profession should surely decide this as an item to be opposed by invoking the EU ‘subsidiarity’ Home Affairs doctrine for individual countries’ limited self-determination. 3
Support for a moratorium on—if not cessation of— politically driven proposals, is the observation that never before has the near-monopoly provider system of health care to the nation, the NHS, been so obviously unfit for purpose and in such a state of chaos as Government piles change upon change with alarming acceleration and cost to the taxpayer. 3 We strongly endorse Osborne's position and plea.
Note Following publication of this letter an extended version will be released on the Society's website www.scpnet.com
Footnotes
Competing interests None declared.