Engaging paediatricians in planning the training of our future workforce

Fundamental reform to the way we train and develop our future workforce is planned. In order to successfully achieve change the engagement of those delivering care is necessary. In this study the authors used a novel participatory design to seek the opinions of medical students, foundation doctors, specialty trainees and consultants on some key statements regarding proposed improvements to postgraduate medical education. While there was overall agreement on many of the recommendations of the Temple report, some aspects were potentially divisive, with significant differences between the views of consultants and those more junior to them. This work emphasises the importance of engaging all members of the healthcare workforce, both present and future, in the reasons for, and outcomes of, healthcare reform.