Future consultant staffing in communicable and tropical diseases. A report of the Royal College of Physicians.

Infectious diseases and tropical medicine as clinically based specialties are in the decline, yet the importance of infection is as great as ever and advances in basic sciences have brought it once more to the forefront of academic medicine. A modest expansion in consultant posts in these specialties should be sought. Special expertise in dealing with infection could be offered by physicians or paediatricians within three categories: Specialists, including a small number with training in tropical medicine, appointed to regional centres linked to teaching hospitals who would be actively engaged in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching as well as research. General physicians with a major interest in infectious diseases appointed to teaching hospitals where they would also be involved in undergraduate training and research. General physicians with interest and training in infection working in District Hospitals (who might occasionally have a second interest, for example in chest diseases or gastroenterology). The general principles of training of infectious disease physicians are set out by the Joint Committee on Higher Medical Training. Perhaps a greater element of laboratory work or epidemiology than many trainees have undertaken in the past might be encouraged. For example, trainees could take an MSc in medical microbiology or epidemiology or receive laboratory training by local arrangement, perhaps as part of a project for an MD thesis. Regional and District Health Authorities should be encouraged to create new posts for physicians in infection in major District General Hospitals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)