OH training - the state of play

摘要

1. Training for OH physicians is currently in a state of flux, with the specialist training changing emphasis and the new MFOM exam replacing the AFOM assessmentrn2. These changes reflect the changing demands being made on OH.The specialism as a whole is under increasing pressure to ensure and maintain the health of the working age population, partly in response to Dame Carol Black's 2008 review, Working for a healthier tomorrowrn3. Despite the increased pressure faced by practitioners, the amount of time and attention dedicated to occupational health in undergraduate medical education is diminishingrn4. There is also a decreasing number of training posts available in the private sector, as businesses refrain from committing the time and money needed to train OH specialistsrn5. It has been suggested that the NHS might make up for this shortfall, but some people question whether the organisation is equipped for such a task both in terms of resources and the sort of experience it can offer traineesrn6. Third-party providers have a role to play but, given they are subject to the same economic pressures as other businesses, there is uncertainty as to whether they can help 'plug the training gap'.