When, and for what reasons, do doctors decide to specialize in psychiatry? Having committed themselves, how adequate do they find their training? Is the general level of their training improving as a result of the efforts of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and of the Joint Committee on Higher Psychiatric Training (JCHPT)? These were the questions asked of consultants in general psychiatry newly appointed between 1 October 1978 and 30 September 1981.

The working party was set up in November 1981 to review current senior registrar training in alcoholism and drug dependence, and to make recommendations for the future. It sought the views of all known consultants in alcoholism and drug dependence, and their present and past senior registrars. Attention to this question is justified for the following reasons. First, the Manpower Working Party's report, Medical Manpower in the Psychiatric Specialties (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1982), has recommended that the average District (i.e. a population of 200,000) should allocate about four consultant sessions to the ‘dependencies', such sessions being provided by general psychiatrists with a special interest in alcohol or drug dependence or both. Secondly, appropriately trained applicants are needed for vacancies which occur in the existing regional and sub-regional alcoholism treatment units and drug dependence clinics. Thirdly, the Treatment and Rehabilitation Working Group of the government's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is likely to recommend an increase in the number of consultants specializing in drug dependence.

The North West Doctors and Dentists Group is part of the wider British Doctors Group. In Britain Doctors' groups began when the London Group was formed in 1973. Since then new groups have been established in Birmingham, Bristol, Durham, Glasgow, Manchester, Northampton, Petersfield and Portadown.

The Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry wish to monitor the way the Act is working in its first year. It would seem appropriate to do this through the College's Regional Representatives. It is suggested that all consultants should make a note of cases where the Education Act is applied. At the end of May 1984 it would be helpful if all consultants summarized their experiences in terms of numbers of cases and any problems that may have been encountered. Cases where the application of the Act was successful and smooth should also be noted in order that we can develop a code of good practice.