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Deans (of UK medical schools)
Deans of UK medical schools are responsible for all matters concerning medical education within their school. Their key aim is to improve and maintain quality in basic medical education and general clinical training. The Council of Heads of Medical Schools (CHMS) acts as the authoritative voice of the deans/heads of university faculties of medicine and medical schools in the UK [17].
Department for Education and Skills (DfES)
The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) is the Government department responsible for education policy and implementation. It can provide detailed information on higher education in the UK. It has a special website dedicated to issues relevant to higher education. The aim of the website is to provide information on a wide range of topics that students intending to enter higher education, their parents and advisers, will find useful in making informed decisions.
Department of Health (DoH)
The Department of Health’s aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of people in England. For information on the department's work, as well as health and social care guidance, publications and policy please refer to the Department of Health's website.
Directors of postgraduate general practice education
The directors of postgraduate general practice education work in close association with college regional specialty advisers from the medical royal colleges to ensure that GP Training Practices provide a suitable learning environment to meet the requirements of GP vocational training. Directors of postgraduate general practice education are mainly responsible for organising, coordinating and monitoring GP training and for continuing professional development [19].
Disabilities
Many disabled doctors are active, engaged and successful members of the healthcare team. Medical schools welcome diversity among their applicants and are positive about accepting disabled students. There are many demanding aspects of medical work and as such any impairment which may impede clinical capability needs to be considered carefully. During the application and selection process, it may be appropriate for students to be assessed to ensure that they have the capability to perform the tasks involved in becoming a doctor. This will focus on what the student can do, rather than what they cannot do. The medical schools occupational health service will be able to offer practical advice and the university’s support services can offer confidential help. Deans of medical schools can provide further information and help. Students may also be eligible for financial help, such as the disabled students’ allowance. For further details, please refer to the Department for Education and Skills.
The BMA believes that disabled applicants should be able to apply to study medicine on an equal footing with all others. Moreover, medical students who acquire a disability during the course of their studies should be given full support to continue, should they so wish, and a modified course, if required, should be offered. For practising doctors, the BMA’s information zone on the members only area of the website contains useful information on a range of issues from aids and equipment to flexible working and finance.
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