I am very pleased to report another successful APMR cycle.

Satisfactory returns were received from 16 universities, including direct entry courses.  

The UK has some excellent, accredited programmes and programme teams. There continues to be an increase in numbers of students enrolled, and also a small increase in the numbers obtaining awards when compared with 2017 to 18 as seen in the table below.

Numbers overall are still lower than at the peak in 2015-16, but there are still a good number of students.  It will be interesting to see how numbers compare going forwards.

There is still a good range of modules and the students continue to come from a variety of backgrounds.  We note difficulties of increasing workload and clinical pressures, which has an effect on clinical placements for students and can affect the retention of students on programmes.

Thank you to Crispian for helping with the analysis, and to all the programme leads for completing the forms in good time.  Adam has been watching in the background to be able to take on a role in the sub-group from next year and Lisa temporarily stepped down due to other commitments but will be back in the team next year.

The database that was used for APMR returns this year was new, and seemed to work well.  Going forwards the intention is to use the same database with some minor modifications.

I am standing down from the APMR sub-group and from CASE Committee this year.  I have been involved with CASE for many years and it has been a pleasure to be part of it. We are in times of constant change, especially now.  I wish all aspects of CASE every success for the future.

I would like to say a very special thank you to Sally for all her hard work and co-ordination, this would be impossible without her input.

Dr Valda Gazzard

APMR lead

July 2020