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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Rebellion over doctor recruitment | Rebellion over doctor recruitment |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A group of consultants is boycotting the new system to select doctors for specialist training. | A group of consultants is boycotting the new system to select doctors for specialist training. |
| The consultants, from the West Midlands, said they would not interview any candidates, claiming the system is flawed and unfair. | The consultants, from the West Midlands, said they would not interview any candidates, claiming the system is flawed and unfair. |
| The British Medical Association is calling on the government to suspend the new system. | The British Medical Association is calling on the government to suspend the new system. |
| But the Department of Health refused, arguing it was fair, and would help to drive up standards. | But the Department of Health refused, arguing it was fair, and would help to drive up standards. |
| We owe it to our patients and the profession that we are able to select and appoint the best candidates to surgical training posts and felt strongly that this was impossible West Midlands consultants | We owe it to our patients and the profession that we are able to select and appoint the best candidates to surgical training posts and felt strongly that this was impossible West Midlands consultants |
| Doctors' training was revamped in 2005, with the aim of speeding up progress so juniors could reach consultant level in an average of 11 years, rather than the current 14. | Doctors' training was revamped in 2005, with the aim of speeding up progress so juniors could reach consultant level in an average of 11 years, rather than the current 14. |
| However, doctors who have been through their initial stage of training under both the old and the new systems are all competing for a limited number of specialist training posts this year. | However, doctors who have been through their initial stage of training under both the old and the new systems are all competing for a limited number of specialist training posts this year. |
| As a result the BMA says over 28,000 UK doctors are currently competing for 22,000 posts. | As a result the BMA says over 28,000 UK doctors are currently competing for 22,000 posts. |
| Badly organised | Badly organised |
| The BMA says the new system set up to process applications is badly organised, fails to draw out applicants' expertise and cannot cope. | |
| It says there is growing evidence that able doctors have not been offered any interviews. | It says there is growing evidence that able doctors have not been offered any interviews. |
| It also claims that non-medically qualified staff are involved in the recruitment process, while consultants have had insufficient time to shortlist applicants fairly. | It also claims that non-medically qualified staff are involved in the recruitment process, while consultants have had insufficient time to shortlist applicants fairly. |
| A computer system set up to deal with the recruitment process crashed after being overwhelmed by the number of applications. | A computer system set up to deal with the recruitment process crashed after being overwhelmed by the number of applications. |
| The West Midlands consultants had been due to select candidates to work in general surgery. | The West Midlands consultants had been due to select candidates to work in general surgery. |
| In a statement they objected to the fact that a longlist of candidates had not been drawn up prior to the selection panel, and said the new system had been rushed in to meet an unrealistic deadline. | In a statement they objected to the fact that a longlist of candidates had not been drawn up prior to the selection panel, and said the new system had been rushed in to meet an unrealistic deadline. |
| They said: "We owe it to our patients and the profession that we are able to select and appoint the best candidates to surgical training posts and felt strongly that this was impossible today." | They said: "We owe it to our patients and the profession that we are able to select and appoint the best candidates to surgical training posts and felt strongly that this was impossible today." |
| They said the decision had been explained to the candidates, who were supportive. | They said the decision had been explained to the candidates, who were supportive. |
| Warning letter | Warning letter |
| Meanwhile, the BMA has written to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, warning the continued failure of the government to act could have disastrous consequences for both doctors and patients. | Meanwhile, the BMA has written to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, warning the continued failure of the government to act could have disastrous consequences for both doctors and patients. |
| The letter says: "Patients and doctors alike must be able to have confidence that the doctors selected to become the consultants of the future have been chosen because of their own excellence rather than as the result of a capricious and unfair system. | The letter says: "Patients and doctors alike must be able to have confidence that the doctors selected to become the consultants of the future have been chosen because of their own excellence rather than as the result of a capricious and unfair system. |
| "This is not the case at present; the selection process is fatally flawed, and doctors have no confidence in it. | "This is not the case at present; the selection process is fatally flawed, and doctors have no confidence in it. |
| "If it is allowed to go ahead, the effect of this debacle on the morale of all doctors, not just those directly involved but those whose friends and colleagues are suffering, will haunt the NHS for years to come." | "If it is allowed to go ahead, the effect of this debacle on the morale of all doctors, not just those directly involved but those whose friends and colleagues are suffering, will haunt the NHS for years to come." |
| The BMA wants the current recruitment round to be suspended, and a full review instituted. | The BMA wants the current recruitment round to be suspended, and a full review instituted. |
| It is currently conducting research to find out how many junior doctors have not had been offered an interview. | It is currently conducting research to find out how many junior doctors have not had been offered an interview. |
| It is pledging support and, if appropriate, legal advice, to any junior doctor who believes they have been unfairly disadvantaged by the new system. | It is pledging support and, if appropriate, legal advice, to any junior doctor who believes they have been unfairly disadvantaged by the new system. |
| Improve standards | Improve standards |
| A Department of Health spokesman said the new system was designed to improve education and training for doctors, and that the application process was "fair and rigorous". | A Department of Health spokesman said the new system was designed to improve education and training for doctors, and that the application process was "fair and rigorous". |
| "It would be irresponsible to halt the interview process at this late stage. | "It would be irresponsible to halt the interview process at this late stage. |
| "It would create far greater uncertainty and anxiety for thousands of junior doctors if the interviews were to be cancelled now. | "It would create far greater uncertainty and anxiety for thousands of junior doctors if the interviews were to be cancelled now. |
| "It would also leave the trusts in an impossible situation as they would be left without a system of recruiting doctors into posts beginning in August 2007." | "It would also leave the trusts in an impossible situation as they would be left without a system of recruiting doctors into posts beginning in August 2007." |