FMLM responds to the GMC's national training survey 2024 results

Responding to the findings of the General Medical Council’s National State of Training survey 2024, Professor Rich Withnall, Chief Executive of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management, said: 

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“Despite trainees reporting that the quality of their training remains high, this survey paints a worrying picture of a health service unable to develop the leaders of the future. 

“There has been a clear decline in those saying they have opportunities to develop leadership skills across all specialties within the NHS, and it is disappointing to see that over half of respondents reporting that they do not have a mentor. 

“The GMC is right to say that leadership training should not be a ‘nice to have’ that is abandoned at the first sign of service pressures. Given that the service is under pressure 24/7, 365 days a year, staff must be equipped with the leadership skills to navigate and handle such strain. Not only will better, consistent and dedicated leadership training improve outcomes for patients and save lives, in the long term it will help mend a broken health service.   

“It is also deeply concerning that a significant proportion of trainers are at risk of burnout, and as training places expand, more pressure will be placed on trainers' shoulders. 

“Whilst we acknowledge the significant challenges that employers have around staffing and rota gaps, they must do more to protect time for staff to both learn and train. We also need to see action from the government, who must ensure that training budgets are protected and work towards integrating clinical leadership as a core competency in healthcare systems, policies and practices.”