Doctors of today and of the future must have appropriate knowledge skills and attitudes to meet the challenges of a fast changing world medical advances new technologies and new approaches to patient care. In addition to being highly trained and motivated they must also become lifelong learners and reflective practitioners for the duration of their working lives. Postgraduate Medical Education and Training explores the various components of the NHS education and training system and how it supports doctors in postgraduate training programmes and thereafter in their continuing professional development. It brings together a group of committed and experienced professionals from both primary and secondary care who collectively review the system and give a comprehensive account of its present state and future development. This handbook helps to facilitate and promote strategic thinking and planning in relation to education and training at various levels including organisational team and individual health-care professionals. ‘We are living through upheaval in postgraduate medical education and training but not before time. We can be forgiven if at times we find the pace of change a little confusing or even alarming but the potential for good is enormous. The contributions in this volume report progress so far and indicate the extent of the commitment and talent to hand.’ Sir Graeme Catto in the foreword