20 April 07 Letter to Deputy CMO

From Mmc

Professor Martin Marshall

Deputy Chief Medical Officer

Department of Health

Richmond House

79 Whitehall

London SW1A 2NS

Our Reference : AT/EAM

Dear Martin

MTAS Review

We are writing on behalf of our three specialties to advise you of our suggested approach to the extended first round of interviews under the modified MTAS system.

We believe that all three specialties share a number of issues which have led to this suggested approach. In particular we are concerned about the ability to fill all training posts with appointable candidates by the 1 August 2007, and as you are aware there are limited opportunities for clinical cross cover in the three individual specialties.

We are sure that the specialties and prospective trainees would benefit from the offer of a minimum of two interviews, whether or not candidates had been shortlisted, and in some cases already interviewed. This proposal relates to our knowledge of the ratio figures of first choice applications in Round 1, and our concern to fill as many vacancies with appointable candidates, not least to meet Service requirements by 1 August.

All three specialty Postgraduate Deans are supportive of this approach and Professor Sowden as Chair of English Deans has discussed with colleagues who are also supportive.

This suggestion is entirely consistent with the principles of the MTAS Review statement of 4 April and is made on the premise that all applicants are given the opportunity to revise or reaffirm their order of preference in the light of speciality and geographical competition ratios.

Furthermore the Colleges wish to carry out a cascade/harmonised system of selection appointments based on scores derived from the two interviews. This would replicate a system developed for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, whereby scores from individual Deaneries with an excess of appointable applicants would be cascaded to those with insufficient suitable applicants. This approach has been shown to work well in England and Wales and last year was adopted by all Deaneries. It is effective and has not attracted any negative views from prospective candidates. Furthermore we recommend that this system is also used to consider where appropriate the offer of an FTSTA or LAT appointment, depending on consent and eligibility.

All three specialties feel that we should be making a very determined attempt to fill as many training posts with appointable candidates in the extended Round 1, and that the need and timing of Round 2 should be considered in that light. Furthermore we consider it impractical to consider a second round appointments procedure before September, at the earliest, considering timescales, Consultant availability and interview capacity.

We and our Specialty Advisers, as well as the Postgraduate Deans are now firmly of the view that this is the only way we can proceed in Psychiatry, Paediatrics and Child Health, and Obstetrics and Gynaecology respectively.

We look forward to hearing from you imminently. In regard to Obstetrics and Gynaecology these proposals are exactly as outlined in Allan Templeton’s letter to you of 12 April 2007 and are consistent with the proposals made by Sheila Hollins at the last Review Group meeting, and by Mary McGraw (RCPCH) at yesterday’s JACSTAG meeting.

Yours sincerely

Professor Sheila Hollins President, Royal College of Psychiatrists

Dr Patricia Hamilton President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Professor Allan Templeton President, Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Copy to: Professor Neil Douglas