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The competence and curriculum framework for the medical care practitioner: A consultation

  • Document type:
    Consultation paper
  • Author:
    Department of Health
  • Published date:
    4 November 2005
  • Primary audience:
    Professionals
  • Gateway reference:
    5497
  • Pages:
    75
  • Copyright holder:
    Crown

The competence and curriculum framework for the medical care practitioner (MCPs) provides the proposed national educational and practice standards and proposed regulatory framework that future healthcare workers will need to meet before being able to treat patients as an MCP.

Once qualified and registered it is proposed that an MCP will be able to:

  • Obtain full medical histories and perform appropriate physical examination
  • Diagnose, manage (including prescribing) and treat illness within their competence
  • Request diagnostic tests and interpret the results
  • Provide patient education and preventative healthcare advice regarding medication, common problems and disease management issues
  • Decide on appropriate referral to, and liaison with, other professionals.

The proposals set out the framework that describes the standards required of a robust and rigorous training programme, assessment, validation and revalidation. MCPs will practice under the supervision of a physician and the supervising physician will continue to be responsible for the medical care the patient receives.

The consultation document has been developed at the request of the National Practitioner Programme (previously part of the Modernisation Agency, Changing Workforce Programme) and been jointly led by the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of General Practitioners.

  • Contact:
    MCP Competence and Curriculum Framework
  • Address:
    National Practitioner Programme (NPP)
    South West London Improvement Academy, Hollyfield House
    22 Hollyfield Road, Surbiton - Surrey
    KT5 9AL
  • Email:
    mcpconsultation@swlia.nhs.uk

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