I represented the Society at the launch of the London College’s report on medical professionalism (visit the RCP website and type the phrase "medical professionalism" into the search facility to get a full copy of the report).

This is an impressive report that is worthy of reading and which I think should be discussed by the Society’s principal committees. The definition that has been accepted is

“Medical professionalism signifies a set of values, behaviours, and relationships that underpins the trust the public has in doctors” and it is described further

“Medicine is a vocation in which a doctor’s knowledge, clinical skills, and judgement are put to the service of protecting and restoring human well-being. This purpose is realised through a partnership between patient and doctor, one based on mutual respect, individual responsibility and appropriate accountability.
In their day-to-day practice doctors are committed to:

• Integrity
• Compassion
• Altruism
• Continuous improvement
• Excellence
• Working in partnership with members of the wider healthcare team.

These values, which underpin the science and practice of medicine, form the basis for a moral contract between the medical profession and society. Each party has a duty to work to strengthen the system of healthcare on which our collective human dignity depends”.

One of the most important questions raised in discussion was whether the Department of Health wanted doctors to act as professionals or merely to have a defined set of competencies. Our responsibility is to ensure that the former view prevails.

How About McMaster?
At the end of October I visited St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario to give talks to the Departments of Psychiatry and of Medicine. Irene Turpie and her colleagues told me that they were very keen to offer a Fellowship to UK trainees who wanted to spend some time training or undertaking research in Canada. McMaster is famous for its early introduction of problem based learning and its emphasis on evidence-based medicine. Specialist training in these areas can be offered as well as an opportunity to enrol on the Masters programme there.

Incidentally, they too have problems with the geriatric medicine and psychiatry liaison. I had to give Grand Rounds twice – medicine had theirs at 8 and psychiatry at 9 … and could either one of them alter their times?

More on Clinical Excellence Awards
By the time you read this, the list of BGS nominations for National Clinical Excellence Awards for England and Wales is likely to have been submitted. The forms this year have been changed with candidates now being required to provide a job plan and indicate whether they are receiving extra payments. Additionally extra security measures have been introduced as the process is now entirely electronic. Comments have been received by members who have not been successful in achieving a nomination from the Society and the nomination group will reflect on these during the year. Congratulations to all those who were successful in the 2005 round.

Role Models in Academic Medicine
Finally, congratulations are in order - first to Simon Conroy and Marion McMurdo on being named as academic Role Models by the BMA. They are amongst 29 individuals chosen from over 100 nominations. Secondly, our congratulations and good wishes to John Gladman, our new Professor of Geriatric Medicine.

Peter Crome