Dear Members
I hope this message finds you in good health and hopefully you had the chance to get a break over the summer. We have the first opportunity this year in which to meet face-to-face and also network with colleagues in the IMPT & BAOMS. The bookings are filling up as we have limited capacity due to COVID. I would urge as many of you in senior positions as possible to sign up as this event is a potential defining point in terms of our training and future of the profession.
I am not being alarmist or exaggerating the position we are in. The National course has again been postponed this year, another fallow year of no trainees. Since 2011 we have only produced 12 newly trained staff (-2020). The team at Health Education England (HEE) are asking why? The funding for our profession is being scrutinised based on our ‘take up’ of the course and many regions are not training so they are asking ‘ Do we need new staff?" To the HEE it appears that there isn’t a workforce need. One major regional unit has closed. The Universities are under pressure also as we are not filling our allocation. They may close the course. There is no alternative fully funded programme.
This meeting allows us to all get our heads together. We have to offer solutions to the HEE for the short to long term to keep our amazing profession alive. If you are not there your voice will not be heard. I look forward to welcoming you to a great day in Sheffield and a fascinating discussion.
BW to you and your families
Jason
IMPT Chairman
