Royal Medico-Psychological Association

Memorandum on Educational Programmes for Trainees in Psychiatry

1. The Association recommends teaching programmes and schedules of training suitable for general professional training and the Membership examination. Psychiatric and general hospitals providing teaching and clinical facilities at an appropriate level will be recognized for training purposes.

2. General professional training will require the provision of a satisfactory teaching programme extending over the three-year period of full-time clinical training. The programme will be organized between a group of psychiatric and general hospitals and special units (e.g child guidance clinics) so as to provide:

(a) a varied clinical experience including juvenile psychiatry and neurology.

(b) clinical teaching in wards, out-patient clinics and at conferences, instruction in psychology and experience in psychotherapy.

3. Clinical Tutors will be appointed to organize and administer the teaching programme in the participating hospitals and units, and will act as a link with the university department or postgraduate training centre.

4. The local university department or postgraduate training centre will provide those facilities essential for the raising of teaching standards, including clinical conferences, clinical experience in an academic unit, formal courses, tutorials and seminars, teaching in psychology and psychotherapy, and supervision with research or guidance in the preparation of case reports.