Junior doctors

From Mmc

Junior doctors

Sir, We understand the deep concerns of Morris Brown and his colleagues but cannot support their proposals (letter, May 14).

The Review Group examined all the options available to remedy the failings of MTAS. They concluded that withdrawal from the process was simply not an option.

We accept that the Review Group’s recommendations, while falling short of the expectations of many doctors, do offer the best available solution. The solutions favoured by Professor Brown would mean writing off interviews that have already taken place and risking either posts not being filled, or shunting doctors to nontraining posts. We agree that a better system is needed, but believe that it should be achieved through argument and negotiation, not action that could risk harming patients, the NHS or our colleagues.

Doctors who only obtained one interview in the first round will, if unsuccessful, have further interviews in the second round.

We restate our support for the Chief Medical Officer and his role in improving junior doctors’ training. He pioneered the principles underlying the reform programme. Serious though they have been, it would be a far-reaching shame if those principles were obscured by recent problems with the online application system.

The mood of our institutions is not one of resignation. We are clear that our responsibility is to ensure that the underlying principles for modernising medical careers are properly met. It is vital that the profession is united to lead a way out of this crisis, and on all issues related to the future development of training. We are also actively designing a better process for future years.

CAROL BLACK, Chairman, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges

JAMES JOHNSON Chairman, Council, British Medical Association