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| Competition 'tough' for NHS posts | Competition 'tough' for NHS posts |
| (5 days later) | |
| Junior doctors across the UK are being warned the competition they will face this year for specialist training jobs in the NHS will be tougher than ever. | Junior doctors across the UK are being warned the competition they will face this year for specialist training jobs in the NHS will be tougher than ever. |
| As recruitment begins for August, the NHS employers body says there may be an average of three applicants per post. | As recruitment begins for August, the NHS employers body says there may be an average of three applicants per 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 Q&A: Junior doctor training | 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 Q&A: Junior doctor training |
| After a computer fiasco and complaints of unfairness when a new system was introduced for 2007, the process for this year has been changed. | After a computer fiasco and complaints of unfairness when a new system was introduced for 2007, the process for this year has been changed. |
| The controversial system - known as the medical training application service (MTAS) - was shelved by ministers. | The controversial system - known as the medical training application service (MTAS) - was shelved by ministers. |
| Doctors complained about a lack of posts, poorly designed recruitment forms, and technical failures with the online application system. | Doctors complained about a lack of posts, poorly designed recruitment forms, and technical failures with the online application system. |
| In the wake of the controversy, BMA chairman James Johnson resigned amid accusations that he had failed to put across the feelings of doctors about the system. | In the wake of the controversy, BMA chairman James Johnson resigned amid accusations that he had failed to put across the feelings of doctors about the system. |
| Now, 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. | Now, 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 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." |
| 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 Young doctor's pain | Our concern is that without adequate planning, the levels of competition could result in a lottery Ram MoorthyBMA Junior Doctors Committee Young doctor's pain |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Pressure group Remedy UK has launched a specialist website to help doctors with their job search. | Pressure group Remedy UK has launched a specialist website to help doctors with their job search. |
| Remedy UK's Chris McCullough said: "Our view is that the system is essentially appalling. | Remedy UK's Chris McCullough said: "Our view is that the system is essentially appalling. |
| "Doctors aren't afraid of competition, but what we have this year is doctors facing a one-in-19 chance of getting a job in some areas." | "Doctors aren't afraid of competition, but what we have this year is doctors facing a one-in-19 chance of getting a job in some areas." |
| 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. |
| 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." |
| 'Waste of resources' | 'Waste of resources' |
| Meanwhile, shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Unless the government recognises the exceptional need for additional posts this year and in the next two years, we will see a new 'lost tribe' of doctors who fail to complete training." | Meanwhile, shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Unless the government recognises the exceptional need for additional posts this year and in the next two years, we will see a new 'lost tribe' of doctors who fail to complete training." |
| Similarly, Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said the UK faces an "insane waste of resources" which will see "expensively-educated junior doctors having no jobs to go to at the end of their training". | Similarly, Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said the UK faces an "insane waste of resources" which will see "expensively-educated junior doctors having no jobs to go to at the end of their training". |
| 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." |