TY - JOUR T1 - The future of medical education in the UK JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 795 LP - 796 DO - 10.3399/bjgp10X538903 VL - 60 IS - 580 AU - P John Rees AU - Anne E Stephenson Y1 - 2010/11/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/60/580/795.abstract N2 - Medical education is always changing but the next 5 to 10 years are likely to see an increased pace of change as we face financial pressures in both educational and health systems. Every change and challenge presents an opportunity, and we must ensure that we use any forced changes to develop our aspirations for the future of medical education.Despite promises of protection of health funding, the financial constraints on the UK economy will affect the health service as health inflation outstrips resources. Higher education is already feeling the effects of funding reductions, and medical education is likely to be squeezed from both sides. It is crucial that medical educators demonstrate the quality and value of graduates, and show that 5 to 6?years of expensive education for young people in the highest academic bracket produces a workforce of considerable and unique value.There is a continuing move for more health care to be delivered in the community, requiring more qualified doctors working in that area. This will lead to an increase in the proportion of graduates training for general practice (planned for at least half of the medical workforce1) and a shift in the working pattern for secondary care specialists. We must ensure that we are training graduates to meet these needs.Although medical education tends to follow changes in clinical practice and NHS organisation, we must predict these more precisely to avoid too … ER -