Joint message from Chairman of Council and BMA craft committee chairs about MTAS
From Mmc
Joint message from Chairman of Council and BMA craft committee chairs about MTAS
Last week the chairmen of JDC and CCSC agreed that improved proposals from the MTAS review group represented a more practical way forward than its previous recommendations.
This was a hugely difficult decision, but we believe the alternatives would have been worse.
Each nation of the UK has tried to deliver the most practical solution to its particular problems. The current solution for England is an improvement on previous proposals. It means everyone can review their choices and be interviewed for their first choice post. No-one loses the interviews they have already been offered.
Of course it is far from ideal. Of course it will not reverse the damage that has already been done. But a suspension of the interview process would be unworkable, and could have disastrous consequences. It would mean cancelling the many interviews that have already taken place, and through which many people will be appointed to posts. NHS employers has made it clear that if MTAS were to be suspended they would proceed with their own appointments system immediately. We believe this might result in trusts taking the opportunity to recruit to non-training posts.
It would also mean the thousands of hours of work by consultants being wasted, and juniors (including potential GP registrars) and medical students facing months of yet more uncertainty. It would not reflect the fact that the situation differs hugely between the four nations of the UK, between different regions of England, and between different specialties.
Taking a practical view for our members does not mean that the fight is over. The BMA is continuing to press for improvements in the second round, and for an independent review to look at how this debacle happened, as well as the principles behind MMC generally. We will push for a safety net for those doctors who do not get training posts in August.
It is time for the profession to take back control and lead the re-design of training. We need a training and appointment process that is fit for purpose so we can appoint and train the best doctors.
Mr James Johnson, Chairman of Council
Dr Andrew Rowland, Vice Chairman, Junior Doctors Committee
Dr Jonathan Fielden, chairman, Consultants Committee
Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman, GPs Committee
Dr Anita Holdcroft, deputy chair, Medical Academic Staff Committee
