Climbdown over NHS job rules for doctors
From Mmc
Climbdown over NHS job rules for doctors
· Computerised application system abandoned
· Junior medics return to CV and interview
Thousands of promising young doctors who were contemplating emigrating or switching careers are to have a second chance at a high-flying job in the NHS following a government climbdown last night.
The computerised application system for the training posts that lead to consultant jobs was scrapped by a review set up this week to establish why many of the best-qualified candidates had been left without a single interview.
The review, led by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, took just three days to bin the online system, which was supposed to deliver a centralised and fairer application process. Junior doctors who have not got interviews in round one will be re-assessed the old way, through scrutiny of their CV and a structured interview. There has been a public outcry in the last 10 days, since doctors received emails telling them whether or not they had an interview for jobs beginning in August. Junior doctors, who have already spent seven or eight years training, protested and surgeons in the West Midlands refused to go ahead with the interview process.
Last night the Royal College of Surgeons said the computerised selection process had "clearly failed and has caused deep distress". Its president, Bernie Ribeiro, claimed a victory. "It is clear that there is a large group of highly skilled trainees who have not been shortlisted for interview due to faults in the application process. I am pleased to say that the secretary of state for health has listened to our advice and acted quickly to set up this review which has hopefully reassured both patients and trainees."
On Wednesday, the Department of Health insisted any changes would have to be to the second round of interviews next month. "It would be irresponsible to halt the interview process at this late stage," it said. "It would create far greater uncertainty and anxiety...[trusts] would be left without a system of recruiting doctors into posts beginning in August 2007."
But the BMA was still calling for the whole process to be suspended and doctors complained that the best jobs would be taken by round two. Medical advisers will now look in detail at candidates not shortlisted. The colleges believe they can have the right people in place by August.
Some 30,000 junior doctors are chasing 22,000 jobs, not all of which carry the prospect of becoming a consultant. The online application form, (Medical Training Application Service) was supposed to be fairer. Doctors were scored for their answers to generalised questions about their attitude, motivation and approach to their work - which had to be answered in 150 words. Shortlisters saw the responses to a single question without the context of the rest of the form. More weight was given to these questions than to the CV.
In some parts of the country, the scoring system was leaked, enabling some candidates to tailor their answers.
