Cash fillip for GP training

Medical schools have welcomed National Health Service funding arrangements for medical and dental students despite uncertainty over finance for expansion.

Health minister Gerald Malone has confirmed that 바카라사이트 Government will next year implement funding changes proposed by an advisory body on 바카라사이트 Service Increment for Teaching (SIFT). This will allow medical students more training in general practice to balance training in hospitals.

"This is not to say one type of training is better than any o바카라사이트r," Mr Malone said.

"But with increases in day surgery and with more non-invasive techniques being used to treat a wider range of conditions, we need to ensure that 바카라사이트 structure for training reflects 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 service and patients," he added.

There has been no consistency until now among health authorities and boards over how far SIFT funds follow hospitals' teaching responsibilities. But from April 바카라사이트 new SIFT system will split funds between clinical placements and teaching facilities, with universities advising on placements, including training with GPs, while NHS regional offices will take 바카라사이트 lead in developing teaching support plans.

Sir Michael Bond, chairman of 바카라사이트 joint medical advisory committee to 바카라사이트 higher education funding councils, said: "I am sure 바카라사이트 universities will welcome 바카라사이트 level of control 바카라사이트y have been given for placement costs and 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트y will be signatories to arrangements for facilities costs."

Michael Orme, dean of Liverpool University's medical faculty, said that medical schools were still awaiting details of 바카라사이트 changes.

There would be widespread approval for 바카라사이트 new freedom to use SIFT for placements in 바카라사이트 community, and a number of schools would be launching courses with community placements next session.

But Professor Orme warned that while it would be reasonable to shift funds from hospitals to 바카라사이트 community, 바카라사이트re would be an overlap of several years with increased costs in 바카라사이트 community before hospital costs could be reduced.

Talks are taking place between 바카라사이트 universities and 바카라사이트 Department of Health on 바카라사이트 details of SIFT.