« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
ANNEX A
Glossary of Terms
Article 14 ( PMETB) - This article from the Order establishing PMETB defines its responsibility to assess the equivalence of the qualifications, training and experience of doctors seeking a statement of eligibility to apply for entry to the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council.
Doctors in Training - This group includes Pre-Registration House Officers, Senior House Officers (included under the Foundation Programme of MMC) and Specialist Registrars (who are undergoing the training required to attain the Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training, enabling them to apply for trained doctor posts, such as consultant).
Modernising Medical Careers ( MMC) - A UK-wide initiative, Modernising Medical Careers ( MMC) aims to improve patient care by delivering a modernised and focused career structure for doctors through a major reform of postgraduate medical education. As training and education are central to the work of doctors and their role in delivering patient care, MMC will also bring about significant changes to career structures, providing qualified staff who are able to meet the needs of patients. It is focused on the development of a flexible workforce of doctors, competent at dealing with the acutely ill patient and who are effective at communicating with patients and colleagues alike. These skills and the absolute guarantee of standards from new methods of assessment are key to the success of modern workforce programmes like the Hospital at Night, and the Working Time Directive.
Building a Health Service Fit for the Future: a National Framework for Service Change in the NHS in Scotland - A report, produced by Professor David Kerr in May 2005. The report contains proposals for the development of NHS Scotland over the next twenty years.
New Deal Contract - The New Deal for doctors in training was introduced in 1991 to reduce doctors' average working week to 56 hours with minimum rest criteria for specific work patterns to promote safety and ensure doctors were not working when they were over-tired. The new contract, introduced in 2000, required all training grade doctors to be compliant with the New Deal targets by August 2003.
Physician Assistant model - Currently in existence in America, this is a healthcare provider who is neither a doctor, nor a doctor trainee. This role is an interdependent, semi-autonomous clinician practicing in conjunction with doctors. They are flexible practitioners, working across all areas of medicine.
Programmed Activity - Programmed Activities ( PAs) are four-hour periods of time which make up a consultant's job plan, replacing the old 3 1/ 2 hour sessions. PAs can either be for Direct Clinical Care Activities or Supporting Professional Activities. The core contract for a full time consultant equates to 10 PAs of 4 hours each equalling 40 hours per week. Employers may contract separately with consultants for Extra Programmed Activities over and above the core contract.
Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board - The Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board ( PMETB) was established by the General and Special Medical Practice (Education and Qualifications) Order, approved by Parliament (both the UK and Scottish Parliaments) 2003 to develop a single, unifying framework for postgraduate medical education and training across the UK. This Order places a duty on PMETB to establish, maintain, and develop standards and requirements relating to postgraduate medical education and training in the United Kingdom. The Board is accountable to Parliament and will act independently of government as the UK competent authority. PMETB will take up its full statutory powers in 2005. Until then, postgraduate medical education will continue to be managed by the Specialist Training Authority ( STA) and the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice ( JCPTGP) in conjunction with NHS Postgraduate Deaneries and the Medical Royal Colleges.
Professions Complementary to Dentistry - Professions Complementary to Dentistry is a term that covers those dental professionals who support the dentist. They include Dental Hygienists and Therapists who are concerned with maintaining and managing aspects of dental health and preventing dental diseases. They work to a treatment plan provided by a dentist. They help patients develop and maintain good oral health. They do this by restoring teeth (doing fillings) and for child patients they can also carry out extractions, pulp therapy and stainless steel crowns. Their preventive role involves giving advice on diet, oral hygiene and smoking cessation. Other care they can provide are the taking and developing of x-rays and the taking of impressions. Dental Nurses and Dental Technicians provide further support to the work of the dental team.
Proleptic Appointment - Appointment made in anticipation of a post becoming vacant through retiral or termination of employment.
Salaried Dentist - NHS Boards have a responsibility for monitoring the availability of the General Dental Service in their areas. If an NHS Board is concerned that existing GDS provision is insufficient to meet the demands and needs of the local population, and no independent general dental practitioner is available to fill the gap, and the Community Dental Service "safety net" is unable to meet these exceptional circumstances, then the NHS Board can consider the appointment of a salaried dentist. These dentists have the same obligations to their registered patients as independent dentists, such as the provision of treatment in an emergency and provision of suitable facilities, although it is up to the NHS Board to decide how and by whom these obligations will be met.
Scottish Higher Education Funding Council - Scottish Executive Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department allocates funds for higher education to Scottish Higher Education Funding Council ( SHEFC) through a grant-in-aid letter. SHEFC then uses its funding formula to allocate these funds to the Higher Education Institutions.
Trained Doctors - This group includes Consultants, GPs and the Non-Consultant Career Grade doctors (which include Associate Specialist, Staff Grade, Clinical Medical Officer, and Senior Clinical Medical Officers).
Whole Time Equivalent - WTEs adjust headcount staff figures to take account of part-time staff.
« Previous | Contents | Next »