Written question asked by Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party) on Thursday, 19 April 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 April 2007. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 May 2007 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Junior Doctors: Paediatrics

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are taken to ensure that junior doctors (Foundation Year 2 and Senior House Officer) working in paediatrics complete a certified paediatric life support course before being on call in England.

Answer: The content and standard of postgraduate medical training is the responsibility of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board, which is the competent authority for postgraduate medical training in the United Kingdom. Its role is that of custodian of quality standards in postgraduate medical education and practice. It is not practicable or desirable for the Government to prescribe the exact training that any individual doctor will receive. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health recommends courses run by the Advanced Life Support Group which is a registered medical education charity.

Secondary information