Email - 1 March 2007
From Mmc
From: Anne Martin
Sent: 01 March 2007 19:13
To: 'Carol Black'
Subject: MTAS - FROM PROFESSOR ALLAN TEMPLETON
Importance: High
Sensitivity: Confidential
Dear Carol
We have had much representation about MTAS in the last few days. I think we must have had 50 e-mails or so, we have asked our Deanery College Advisers for their views and most have reported problems. I enclose four representative, unsolicited e-mails, two from Fellows with knowledge of the shortlisting process and in addition an e-mail from the Chair of our Trainees Committee and one from two trainees in UCH. These are all representative of many e-mails we have received. The main issues emerging are:-
1. That most Deaneries have been overwhelmed by the shortlisting process to the extent that selection on merit has been a fairly blunt process. 2. The completed forms have been particularly difficult to assess and score and seem incapable of allowing the identification of the more able doctors. Also they fail to identify UK graduates, which we all thought was the major purpose of MMC. 3. We are getting reports from almost all the Deaneries of able doctors keen to do Obstetrics and Gynaecology simply not being shortlisted, much to their surprise, and to the surprise of their supervisors. This is a particular concern in our specialty. As you know we need to do all we can to encourage UK graduates to take up O&G. 4. We are becoming aware that there are many distraught young graduates out there unclear as to their future.
Our suggestion is that we try and recover the situation, to some extent at least in the second round. We used to run a National Selection process, prior to MMC and we would like to put this in place, with the agreement of MMC prior to April. Meantime we are encouraging all those who have not been shortlisted to take advice, reapply for the second round and we will be giving them all the help and support we can. As you know Arul will be attending the Academy in my place and is now well versed in the issues and will be pleased to speak to the problems.
Allan
Professor Allan Templeton
President
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
27 Sussex Place,Regent's Park
London NW1 4RG
