Student BMJ Review: November 2007 issue

I have read the current issue, and regularly read the Student BMJ anyway, not least because it helps me to understand issues that are of concern to students in Sheffield, as well as matters that are likely to come up from the BMA MSC representatives on the Medical Schools Council and other groups I sit on. I always enjoy it and really wish we had had something like this when I was a student! The paper always manages to keep on top of the current issues that are likely to be concern to students, as well as having sufficient non-political material to keep anyone interested.

However you have asked for one or two action points, so what do I think more critically? I suppose overall I would say that you may want to look at the balance in some of your news pieces a little more. I am quite sure it would be wrong to have too much non-student opinion, but I do wonder if it would help your readers if you got some quotes or opinions from those who are practising or who could have another perspective.

Let's take the main item on page 1 in the November issue, the Tooke report; a really big event. What would I change? I think there are two really significant things you have missed in the article, namely the clear statement of need in linking full registration to adequate numbers of PRHO places (in other words everyone who graduates gets to register fully, which is at threat at present) and the call to merge PMETB with the GMC. Also there is no acknowledgment of the call to excellence as something that should inspire and motivate the profession, which I take to be the real rallying point in the report, after decades in which the role of the doctor has been downplayed and the thrust has been on training over education. Would all your readers know what might happen after the report – for instance it could be put on the shelf by the DH and not implemented at all, although I agree this is unlikely?

It seems to me that you could have distilled quotes from other organisations that are often on websites and therefore accessible (Medical Schools Council, Colleges, DH) rather than just get the BMA view which is quoted. You don't have to agree with these and indeed you may point to opinions you dislike, but I think this in itself would be useful for readers, and it will also highlight for you areas that others see as crucial. And you could explore getting direct quotes on important topics from non-BMA sources. John himself could be approached (although he may not thank me for saying this!); Deans are usually only too keen to let you have their views!

The second point I would raise is very general and may be already addressed in issues pending or that I have forgotten. That is, I wonder if it would be helpful to have some articles that take a broader perspective than simply the news that is here and now. Most newspapers have leaders, or editorials that put news into context, and help new readers (you have these each year) get up to speed quickly. Would a student in year one feel up to speed with some of the front cover content or instead rather concerned about what they had let themselves in for? So I recommend an editorial in each issue, which sometimes could be by a guest writer.

So there are my two points, but please see these in the context of my opening remarks about how excellent I think the Student BMJ is. Most importantly keep up the good work.

   

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