Patient safety became a fundamental priority for the National Health Service (NHS) in 2000 following the Department of Health's publication 'Organisation with a Memory'1 and subsequent establishment of the National Patient Safety Agency in 2001. Despite this, most acutely ill patients are cared for by the most junior medical staff who have the least knowledge and experience. Moreover, their knowledge of basic science has fallen due to the practical elimination of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine from the curriculum in many medical schools. This has happened despite the recommendation from the General Medical Council (GMC). 'Tomorrow's Doctors'2 states that medical graduates must have a knowledge and understanding of clinical and basic sciences; that they must be able to follow, safely and effectively, interpretation of results of commonly used investigations; and 'make clinical decisions based on the evidence they have gathered'. At the present time the GMC Education Section is preparing to review that document to ensure that the guidance is fit for purpose. Formal consultation will take place in 2008.
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