Undergraduate medical curricula: are students being trained to meet future service needs?

Abstract

The General Medical Council's recommendations for medical education in Tomorrow's doctors led to a major review of undergraduate medical curricula. The changes have affected all those who teach medical students. This article discusses the background to the GMC's recommendations to define core curricula but provide choice, including options in the humanities, to 'integrate' courses and to introduce new methods of teaching and learning. The guidance in Tomorrow's doctors provides a framework that should ensure that graduates are competent and reflective practitioners, but courses must be evaluated to ensure that goals are realised. It may prove difficult to maintain high standards in medical education as numbers of students increase.