The Parliamentary Scholar Scheme: a way to engage doctors in healthcare policy and politics

BJPsych Bull. 2020 Jun;44(3):103-107. doi: 10.1192/bjb.2019.76.

Abstract

The Royal College of Psychiatrists' Parliamentary Scholar Scheme gives higher trainees in psychiatry the opportunity to spend 1 day a week in the House of Lords working alongside a peer with an interest in health. This article describes the work of the House of Lords and Parliament using examples from the experiences of 2017-2018 scholars and outlines ways doctors can get more involved in policy and politics.

Keywords: Education and training; healthcare policy; politics.