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| Competition 'tough' for NHS posts | Competition 'tough' for NHS posts |
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| Junior doctors across the UK are being warned they face the toughest competition ever for jobs to train as the specialists of the future. | Junior doctors across the UK are being warned they face the toughest competition ever for jobs to train as the specialists of the future. |
| As recruitment begins for August, NHS Employers says on average three doctors could apply for each training post. | |
| Many applicants will be NHS doctors who qualified outside the EU, after the government failed in a 2007 legal bid to give UK medical graduates priority. | Many applicants will be NHS doctors who qualified outside the EU, after the government failed in a 2007 legal bid to give UK medical graduates priority. |
| Without a training post a junior doctor cannot become a consultant or GP. | Without a training post a junior doctor cannot become a consultant or GP. |
| It is a good thing for patients that there is competition for jobs - it should mean they get the best doctors wherever they live Sian ThomasNHS Employers | It is a good thing for patients that there is competition for jobs - it should mean they get the best doctors wherever they live Sian ThomasNHS Employers |
| After a computer fiasco and complaints of unfairness when a new system was introduced in 2007, the process for this year has been changed. | After a computer fiasco and complaints of unfairness when a new system was introduced in 2007, the process for this year has been changed. |
| Thousands of applications will be handled by local medical deaneries and there is no limit to the number of applications an individual doctor can make. | Thousands of applications will be handled by local medical deaneries and there is no limit to the number of applications an individual doctor can make. |
| In England there will be around 9,000 places on speciality training programmes and employers expect there may be as many as 23,000 applications. | In England there will be around 9,000 places on speciality training programmes and employers expect there may be as many as 23,000 applications. |
| Competition for posts is expected to be similarly intense in the other parts of the UK. | Competition for posts is expected to be similarly intense in the other parts of the UK. |
| Competition welcomed | Competition welcomed |
| Sian Thomas, from NHS Employers, said young doctors needed to make realistic decisions. | Sian Thomas, from NHS Employers, said young doctors needed to make realistic decisions. |
| In some popular specialities, such as surgery, there may be as many as 10 applications for each training post, she said. | In some popular specialities, such as surgery, there may be as many as 10 applications for each training post, she said. |
| "It is a good thing for patients that there is competition for jobs - it should mean they get the best doctors wherever they live." | "It is a good thing for patients that there is competition for jobs - it should mean they get the best doctors wherever they live." |
| She said the UK was now one of the few countries in the world with more than enough doctors. | She said the UK was now one of the few countries in the world with more than enough doctors. |
| "The US has a vacancy rate of around 20%, which is having a devastating impact on their ability to deliver health care in poorer areas." | "The US has a vacancy rate of around 20%, which is having a devastating impact on their ability to deliver health care in poorer areas." |
| One reason the competition for jobs is expected to be intense is the large number of overseas doctors who want specialist training in the UK. | One reason the competition for jobs is expected to be intense is the large number of overseas doctors who want specialist training in the UK. |
| Our concern is that without adequate planning, the levels of competition could result in a lottery Ram MoorthyBMA Junior Doctors Committee | Our concern is that without adequate planning, the levels of competition could result in a lottery Ram MoorthyBMA Junior Doctors Committee |
| In 2008 it is expected that doctors who qualified outside the EU may make up half the applications for training posts. | In 2008 it is expected that doctors who qualified outside the EU may make up half the applications for training posts. |
| Many have come to work in the health service under the highly skilled migrants programme - international recruitment has been a significant part of the increased number of doctors in the NHS. | Many have come to work in the health service under the highly skilled migrants programme - international recruitment has been a significant part of the increased number of doctors in the NHS. |
| But UK medical schools have also increased the number of doctors they are training, at an estimated cost to the taxpayer of £250,000 for every medical graduate. | But UK medical schools have also increased the number of doctors they are training, at an estimated cost to the taxpayer of £250,000 for every medical graduate. |
| Three new medical schools have been created in the last decade to meet the numbers needed for the health service in the future. | Three new medical schools have been created in the last decade to meet the numbers needed for the health service in the future. |
| It has all added up to many more doctors competing for jobs. | It has all added up to many more doctors competing for jobs. |
| The Department of Health tried to give UK medical graduates priority in the recruitment process this year, but that was overturned after a legal challenge. | The Department of Health tried to give UK medical graduates priority in the recruitment process this year, but that was overturned after a legal challenge. |
| Now the government is appealing to the House of Lords but any decision will be too late to affect the rules for 2008. | Now the government is appealing to the House of Lords but any decision will be too late to affect the rules for 2008. |
| Fears of unfairness | Fears of unfairness |
| A Department of Health spokesman said: "Doctors from outside Europe have made and continue to make a huge contribution to the NHS. | A Department of Health spokesman said: "Doctors from outside Europe have made and continue to make a huge contribution to the NHS. |
| "The issue is not, and never has been, whether they can continue to work as NHS doctors - which they can - but whether the taxpayer should be investing in training them instead of UK medical graduates." | "The issue is not, and never has been, whether they can continue to work as NHS doctors - which they can - but whether the taxpayer should be investing in training them instead of UK medical graduates." |
| The British Medical Association is worried that the volume of applications this year could overwhelm medical deaneries. | The British Medical Association is worried that the volume of applications this year could overwhelm medical deaneries. |
| It said it would be monitoring the process to ensure fairness. | It said it would be monitoring the process to ensure fairness. |
| Ram Moorthy, chairman of the BMA junior doctors committee, said: "Our concern is that without adequate planning, the levels of competition could result in a lottery. | Ram Moorthy, chairman of the BMA junior doctors committee, said: "Our concern is that without adequate planning, the levels of competition could result in a lottery. |
| "Trusts need to get their recruitment practices in order, and start preparing now to ensure that there is no unfairness, and no negative impact on patient care." | "Trusts need to get their recruitment practices in order, and start preparing now to ensure that there is no unfairness, and no negative impact on patient care." |