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Review into doctor recruitment Review into doctor recruitment
(10 minutes later)
The Department of Health is to carry out a review of the new system to select doctors for specialist training.The Department of Health is to carry out a review of the new system to select doctors for specialist training.
The move follows the decision by a group of top consultants to boycot the process. The move follows a decision by a group of top consultants to boycott the process.
The consultants, from the West Midlands, said they would not interview any candidates, claiming the system was flawed and unfair.The consultants, from the West Midlands, said they would not interview any candidates, claiming the system was flawed and unfair.
The British Medical Association had also called on the government to suspend the whole process. The British Medical Association said the current round of interviews should be suspended.
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 Not only is this response, too late, it also does not go far enough Dr Jo HilborneBMA Junior Doctors Committee
The Department of Health refused to suspend the current round of interviews - but did agree to a review. The Department of Health refused this request - but did agree to a review.
It will be completed by the end of March, so that any changes deemed necessary can be put in place before a second round of recruitment begins in late April.It will be completed by the end of March, so that any changes deemed necessary can be put in place before a second round of recruitment begins in late April.
This will allow doctors not granted an interview in the current round of recruitment a second chance. This will allow doctors not granted an interview in the current round a second chance.
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 organisedBadly organised
The BMA said the new system set up to process applications was badly organised, failed to draw out applicants' expertise and could not cope with demand.The BMA said the new system set up to process applications was badly organised, failed to draw out applicants' expertise and could not cope with demand.
It said there was growing evidence that able doctors had not been offered any interviews.It said there was growing evidence that able doctors had not been offered any interviews.
It also claimed that non-medically qualified staff were involved in the recruitment process, while consultants had insufficient time to shortlist applicants fairly.It also claimed that non-medically qualified staff were involved in the recruitment process, while consultants 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 letterWarning letter
Meanwhile, the BMA wrote 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 wrote 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 said: "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. Dr Jo Hilborne, chairman of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee, welcomed the review.
"This is not the case at present; the selection process is fatally flawed, and doctors have no confidence in it." But she said: "Not only is this response, too late, it also does not go far enough.
The BMA is currently conducting research to find out how many junior doctors have not had been offered an interview. "The only fair solution now is for the interview process to be suspended until it can be clearly shown that no doctor has been disadvantaged as a result of the government?s mistakes."
It has pledged support and, if appropriate, legal advice, to any junior doctor who believes they have been unfairly disadvantaged by the new system.
A Department of Health spokesman said the revamp of training - known as Modernising Medical Careers - and the new application process had been developed with the help of the medical royal colleges, and trainee doctors.A Department of Health spokesman said the revamp of training - known as Modernising Medical Careers - and the new application process had been developed with the help of the medical royal colleges, and trainee doctors.
"We will continue to work with them to ensure that trainee doctors are properly supported and fairly treated, and that the NHS is able to train and recruit the best doctors for the future.""We will continue to work with them to ensure that trainee doctors are properly supported and fairly treated, and that the NHS is able to train and recruit the best doctors for the future."