Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure is referenced in NHS training curricula for (a) obstetrics, (b) gynaecology and (c) general practice.

The standard of training for doctors is the responsibility of the General Medical Council (GMC), who set the outcome standards expected at undergraduate level and approve courses and medical schools to write and teach the curricula content that enables their students to meet the GMC’s outcome standards.

The curricula for postgraduate training are set by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges for foundation training, and by the relevant individual royal colleges and faculties for specialty training. The GMC approves curricula and assessment systems for each training programme.

Whilst not all curricula may necessarily highlight a specific condition, they all nevertheless emphasise the skills and approaches a doctor must develop in order to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients, including for diethylstilbestrol exposure.