Written question asked by Nadine Dorries (Conservative) on Thursday, 26 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 January 2006. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 February 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Parkinson's Disease

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to ensure that general practitioners are adequately trained in the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of Parkinson's disease; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Government do not specify the content of the general practitioner (GP) training curriculum. This is the job of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB), which is the competent authority for postgraduate medical training in the United Kingdom. PMETB is an independent professional body.Regulations specify seven competencies which must be tested, and which the curriculum must therefore teach:"factual medical knowledge sufficient to enable the doctor to perform the duties of a GP; the ability to apply factual medical knowledge to the management of problems presented by patients in general practice;""effective communication, both orally and in writing;""the ability to consult satisfactorily with general practice patients;""the ability to review and critically analyze the practitioner's own working practices and to manage any necessary changes appropriately;""clinical skills; and""the ability to synthesize all of the above competencies and apply them appropriately in a general practice setting."GPs are expected therefore to learn in trailing the skills needed to deal with all their patients.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 47347; 442 c1323W;442 c1323W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Diagnosis General practitioners Medical treatments Training Parkinson's disease
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk