Neurology in practice: another supplement: why?

Over the past few years there has been a quiet revolution in neurological training in the United Kingdom and many other countries. In comparison with North American trainees, who have for many years benefited from structured coordinated 4–5 year training programmes, it has been common practice for neurological training to be based on apprenticeship. This could last for several years, which in the United Kingdom was on top of 3 years of postgraduate general professional training in general medicine. It was considered that the duration and variety of jobs done by the trainee led to a sufficient breadth of experience and knowledge to warrant appointment as a consultant neurologist, despite the somewhat haphazard nature of the training, especially in the neurological subspecialties, and the frequent translocation of trainees around the country. The introduction of …