GB 1538 K - Overseas Doctors' Training Fellowship (ODTF) of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Identity area

Reference code

GB 1538 K

Title

Overseas Doctors' Training Fellowship (ODTF) of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Date(s)

  • 1981-1999 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

1 box, 12 microfilm reels, 7 CD ROM

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Overseas doctors' training schemes (ODTS) were instituted by the Department of Health after the Second World War to arrange postgraduate training in the UK for overseas doctors. Under the schemes the Department arranged training posts for doctors from overseas, monitored training and negotiated with the Home Office over visas. During the 1970s the royal medical colleges were also developing their own procedures for assisting and advising overseas doctors wishing to train in the UK. In the late 1980s responsibility for developing their own training schemes, including sponsorship, was passed to the royal medical colleges.

In 1983 the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists decided to expand its existing arrangements, which had hitherto been confined to the placement of postgraduates financed by funds from overseas in unpaid supernumerary posts. Double sponsorship schemes were therefore initiated, the overseas sponsor normally being the national or regional representative committee of the College; in countries without such committees sponsorship by Fellows or Members, or, exceptionally, deans of medical schools was considered. Placement of sponsored trainees and their subsequent supervision was the responsibility of the College's Director of Postgraduate Studies. In 1986 a Sponsorship Officer (now the ODTF Officer) was appointed.

In 1994 the ODTS section within the College acquired a careers side, currently run by a Careers Officer, who produces careers advice and guidelines. ODTF (the section was renamed in 2001) also maintains records of overseas doctors who have passed the membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG). The ODTF falls under the umbrella of the Postgraduate Training Department of the College.

Archival history

The bulk of the pass files on microfilm derives from the ODTF administrator. In the case of the pass files on CD ROM the material was transferred from the now defunct Central Services Department, which arranged for the information to be converted to disk. In 2001 it was decided, following consultation with the College Archivist, that microfilm should again be the preferred non-paper medium.
GB 1538 K 1981-1999 Collection (fonds) 1 box, 12 microfilm reels, 7 CD ROM Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists , RCOG
Overseas doctors' training schemes (ODTS) were instituted by the Department of Health after the Second World War to arrange postgraduate training in the UK for overseas doctors. Under the schemes the Department arranged training posts for doctors from overseas, monitored training and negotiated with the Home Office over visas. During the 1970s the royal medical colleges were also developing their own procedures for assisting and advising overseas doctors wishing to train in the UK. In the late 1980s responsibility for developing their own training schemes, including sponsorship, was passed to the royal medical colleges.

In 1983 the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists decided to expand its existing arrangements, which had hitherto been confined to the placement of postgraduates financed by funds from overseas in unpaid supernumerary posts. Double sponsorship schemes were therefore initiated, the overseas sponsor normally being the national or regional representative committee of the College; in countries without such committees sponsorship by Fellows or Members, or, exceptionally, deans of medical schools was considered. Placement of sponsored trainees and their subsequent supervision was the responsibility of the College's Director of Postgraduate Studies. In 1986 a Sponsorship Officer (now the ODTF Officer) was appointed.

In 1994 the ODTS section within the College acquired a careers side, currently run by a Careers Officer, who produces careers advice and guidelines. ODTF (the section was renamed in 2001) also maintains records of overseas doctors who have passed the membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG). The ODTF falls under the umbrella of the Postgraduate Training Department of the College.

The bulk of the pass files on microfilm derives from the ODTF administrator. In the case of the pass files on CD ROM the material was transferred from the now defunct Central Services Department, which arranged for the information to be converted to disk. In 2001 it was decided, following consultation with the College Archivist, that microfilm should again be the preferred non-paper medium.

Papers relating to the Overseas Doctors' Training Fellowship (ODTF) of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1981-1999, comprising MRCOG pass files of overseas doctors on microfilm and CD ROM, 1990-1997; printed regulations and guidelines for overseas doctors, 1986-1999; miscellaneous correspondence, 1981-1993, relating to meetings for overseas doctors and some questionnaire results.

CD ROM in obsolete formats have been destroyed. Few administrative papers of permanent value have been passed to the Archives; the bulk of correspondence files of the ODTF comprise routine enquiries and are destroyed after an agreed period.

Further accruals are expected.

The records are arranged as outlined in the scope and content.

Printed material open. Correspondence files open 20 years after last date on file. Pass files open 75 years after last date on file, other than to individuals seeking information regarding their own pass files.

Copyright is vested in the College.
English

A database of overseas doctors who have applied to sit the MRCOG is maintained by the ODTF Administrator. Once the doctors pass the MRCOG their names are removed from this database and added to the MRCOG database maintained by the Register Secretary, Membership Services Department, with an annotation to indicate that they are overseas doctors.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists holds the President's papers on the development of the ODTS (Reference: A4/21/42-43, A4/21/157, A4/25/82 and A4/25/168); Vice President/Overseas Officer's papers (Reference: A5/41/5-6); College Secretary's papers (Reference: A8/48).

Compiled by Clare Cowling, revised by Julie Tancell as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997; ISAD(G), Second Edition, 2000. November 2002 Associations Gynaecology Higher science education Medical education Medical personnel Medical profession Medical sciences Obstetrics Organizations Personnel Physicians Professional associations Professional training Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists x British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Surgery Training People by occupation People

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers relating to the Overseas Doctors' Training Fellowship (ODTF) of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1981-1999, comprising MRCOG pass files of overseas doctors on microfilm and CD ROM, 1990-1997; printed regulations and guidelines for overseas doctors, 1986-1999; miscellaneous correspondence, 1981-1993, relating to meetings for overseas doctors and some questionnaire results.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

CD ROM in obsolete formats have been destroyed. Few administrative papers of permanent value have been passed to the Archives; the bulk of correspondence files of the ODTF comprise routine enquiries and are destroyed after an agreed period.

Accruals

Further accruals are expected.

System of arrangement

The records are arranged as outlined in the scope and content.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Printed material open. Correspondence files open 20 years after last date on file. Pass files open 75 years after last date on file, other than to individuals seeking information regarding their own pass files.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright is vested in the College.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists holds the President's papers on the development of the ODTS (Reference: A4/21/42-43, A4/21/157, A4/25/82 and A4/25/168); Vice President/Overseas Officer's papers (Reference: A5/41/5-6); College Secretary's papers (Reference: A8/48).

Finding aids

A database of overseas doctors who have applied to sit the MRCOG is maintained by the ODTF Administrator. Once the doctors pass the MRCOG their names are removed from this database and added to the MRCOG database maintained by the Register Secretary, Membership Services Department, with an annotation to indicate that they are overseas doctors.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Rules and/or conventions used

National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997; ISAD(G), Second Edition, 2000.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area