Two of England’s top doctors, Professor Sir Stephen Powis and Professor Sir Chris Whitty, are to lead a huge review into postgraduate training for newly qualified medics.

National medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis and chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty are leading a review following concerns raised by resident doctors (previously junior doctors), with a report to be published in the summer.

The review will be based on feedback from current resident doctors and students, locally employed doctors and medical educators, and several national listening events in February and March, as well as a call for evidence. The review will look at placement options, the flexibility of training, difficulties with rotas, control and autonomy in training, and the balance between developing specialist knowledge and gaining a wide range of skills.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director said: “It’s been several years since medical training was reviewed and the way we practice medicine has evolved, as have the needs and expectations of medical graduates.

“So, the time is right to look at again, especially with a new 10-Year Health Plan in development.

“By reshaping medical training, our aim is to improve the working lives of resident doctors and support career progression – ultimately helping them to deliver the best possible care to patients”.

Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England said: “We all learn throughout our medical careers. Many things have changed in medicine and it is sensible to look at the key issues, problems and successes of lifelong training we need to address. Getting the balance right between competing, reasonable aims of training and service provision will help ensure doctors are best equipped to treat patients in the coming decades”.