A false god? How relevant is competency-based education and training to the NHS?

The competency-based approach to education and training is a new "orthodoxy"--the the emerging "one right way" to pursue the training and development of staff. John Edmonstone explores what is meant by competency-based training, considers how it differs from more "traditional" approaches and examines some of the underlying assumptions. He considers the competency-based approach in the light of three NHS case studies and finally discusses the applicability of the approach to education and training within the service.