2008 GMC (PMETB) Report on Training in OMFS
The Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) was a new body started in 2008 set up to manage training in medicine. It only lasted a few years and was absorbed into the General Medical Council. The PMETB Report on Training in OMFS is the most expensive and extensive review of training in any surgical specialty. Initiated and co-chaired by the Chief Dental Officer at the time, it was clear the CDO had an agenda to split the specialty into Oral Surgery and Maxillofacial Surgery. This agenda was highlighted by the fact that the only two hospitals he planned to visit in this "review of OMFS training" did not have any OMFS trainees, and one did not have any OMFS surgeons! The evidence provided by patients, hospitals Trusts, trainees, doctors/surgeons from other specialties and training bodies meant his ambitions were frustrated. The first recommendation of the review was “There should be no change to the current statutory requirement for those training in OMFS to obtain primary qualifications in both medicine and dentistry”.
For OMFS trainees who are not aware of this document, it should be essential reading particularly in the context of Peter Brennan's recent article in BMJ Careers
The GMC, in a recent update of its website, has deleted reference to the 2008 Review of Training in OMFS so BAOMS is happy to host it here.
2014 GMC Small Specialty Review of Training in OMFS
OMFS was the first small specialty to be reviewed by the GMC. This document is very supportive of training in OMFS.
2011 - GMC Position Statement on OMFS for Foundation and Core Trainees
This documents issues related to Foundation Training and Core Training in medicine and specialty training in OMFS.