The US residency programme--lessons for pre-registration house officer education in the UK?

The 1994 NACT Wyeth-Ayerst Travelling Fellowship provided the opportunity to compare the education and welfare of pre-registration house officers in the UK with their nearest counterpart in the US residency system. Investment in all aspects of learning was impressive, as was the retention of the central role of the patient in education. Adequate clinical exposure must take into account both the changing pattern of care delivery and the need to limit junior doctors' hours of work. Service containment is difficult to achieve. The self-educating potential of junior medical staff should be maximised and a post analogous to 'Chief Resident' in the US could be considered. Explicit educational aims and objectives must be stated so that meaningful assessment can be carried out and feedback provided. Adequate support systems are essential and an earlier start to the working day is encouraged.