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BMA chairman quits in letter row BMA chairman quits over jobs row
(about 1 hour later)
The chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA) has resigned following a dispute with colleagues over a letter to a national newspaper. The chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA) has resigned in a row over a controversial doctors' job selection system.
James Johnson, chairman for almost four years, said his early resignation was prompted by unhappiness within the BMA.James Johnson, chairman for almost four years, said his early resignation was prompted by unhappiness within the BMA.
He said his letter to the Times about problems with the appointment system for junior doctors was written without the consultation of senior colleagues.
BMA treasurer Dr David Pickersgill said colleagues had lost confidence in him.BMA treasurer Dr David Pickersgill said colleagues had lost confidence in him.
Mr Johnson, a vascular surgeon in the north-west of England, wrote the letter with Dame Carol Black, chairman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. He said Mr Johnson failed to convey the anger felt over problems with the government's system for matching junior doctors to specialist training posts.
Dr Pickersgill said: "While it [the letter] reflected the association's agreed position of working towards a pragmatic solution for this year, its tone failed to reflect the anger being currently expressed by members of the association, particularly junior doctors. Security breach
In March thousands of trainee doctors took part in a protest rally in London.
Junior doctors had complained the system was profoundly flawed, and that many of them had been unfairly treated.
Ministers announced last week that the system, known as the Medical Training Application Service (MTAS), will be shelved for the second round of interviews for posts.
But MTAS has been subject to a legal challenge in the High Court, with a decision expected this week.
Junior doctor pressure group Remedy UK wants the whole system, including the first round of recruitment, scrapped.
It was also subject to an online breach of security which allowed access to confidential information including doctors' addresses and telephone numbers, previous convictions, sexual orientation and religion.
Mr Johnson, a vascular surgeon in the north-west of England, wrote a letter about MTAS with Dame Carol Black, chairman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, to the Times newspaper on 17 May.
In it the pair reject a suggestion favoured by junior doctors that a first round of interviews under the MTAS be scrapped.
They add: "We agree that a better system is needed, but believe that it should be achieved through argument and negotiation, not action that could risk harming patients, the NHS or our colleagues."
'Loss of confidence'
Dr Pickersgill said on Sunday: "While it [the letter] reflected the association's agreed position of working towards a pragmatic solution for this year, its tone failed to reflect the anger being currently expressed by members of the association, particularly junior doctors.
"It was felt to be insufficiently sensitive and has led to a loss of confidence in the chairman.""It was felt to be insufficiently sensitive and has led to a loss of confidence in the chairman."
System ditched MTAS ran into serious trouble with many complaining about a lack of posts, poorly designed recruitment forms and technical failures with the online application system.
The controversial system used to match junior doctors to specialist training posts was shelved by ministers last week, after months of anger from many doctors. Mr Johnson said he had intended not to seek re-election in June for a fifth and final year of office, but he was now leaving early because of "unhappiness" within the association.
They had complained the system was profoundly flawed, and that many juniors had been unfairly treated.
Juniors had to apply for a job through a system known as the medical training application service (MTAS).
But the system ran into serious trouble with many complaining about a lack of posts, poorly designed recruitment forms and technical failures with the online application system.
Mr Johnson said he had intended not to seek re-election in June for a fifth and final year of office, but he was now leaving early because of "unhappiness" over the letter.
It had been a "tremendous privilege to serve my colleagues through the BMA", he said, adding that he wished his successor and the association well.It had been a "tremendous privilege to serve my colleagues through the BMA", he said, adding that he wished his successor and the association well.
The BMA said it would now consider the process for electing a new chairman.The BMA said it would now consider the process for electing a new chairman.
More than 34,000 doctors are chasing 18,500 training posts due to start in August.