At a teleconference on 22 June, it was agreed that trainees need to lead the set-up and running of this research collaborative, supported by Consultants. There was debate about whether multiple regional networks or a national network would be best but either way, the main aim will be to enable trainees from all over the UK to participate in high-quality national prospective studies.

We also discussed how best to encourage participation by as many trainees as possible. Any change in the curriculum would need to be carefully considered and fair to all trainees, both those interested in following an academic path, and those whose primary motivation is establishing a better evidence base for excellent clinical care.