Medical Education and Training Review
What is the Medical Education and Training Review (METR)?
The METR is a major, UK‑wide reform programme commissioned by NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to modernise postgraduate medical training. It follows the first diagnostic stage of the national review, which completed in 2025.
The initial diagnostic phase (led by Professor Sir Chris Whitty and Professor Sir Stephen Powis) gathered over 8,000 responses, including more than 6,000 resident doctors and medical students. It identified widespread concerns about workload, training quality, progression, and the divide between service and education.
It produced 11 recommendations across four priority areas:
more flexible training
removing the divide between service and training
ending recruitment bottlenecks
rebuilding teams where doctors feel valued.
Professor Dame Jane Dacre has now been appointed as the independent chair of the review to lead the next phase. This phase which is currently in progress, involves a range of stakeholders including the Medical Royal Colleges, postgraduate deans, the GMC, NHS England and DHSC. Eight working groups have been established for this phase, with representation from these stakeholders. NHS Employers has secured employer representation on each group to help ensure that the employer voice is heard and reflected in the development of proposals.
The eight working groups are:
career progression
procedure heavy/craft specialties
clinical academic medicine
flexibility
rotational training
curricula
training delivery
educators and facilities.
These groups are currently meeting with an aim of developing proposals by April 2027.
Stay in touch
Membership of each group is limited. However, employer insight will be essential to ensuring that reforms are practical and effective.
NHS Employers will share progress updates and gather views from employers to feed into these working groups. If you would like to stay involved, please get in touch.
For more information on the review, please visit the NHS England website.
