Message from the BMA Chairman of Council regarding Medical Training Applications
From Mmc
I write as another failing of the Medical Training Application System (MTAS) comes to light. Personal details of medical students have been open to public scrutiny, following their placement on an unsecured website. It is one more in a very long line of problems that have arisen this year, through the lack of planning and poor foresight of this government, and once again we will take vigorous action to counteract this.
As you will know, junior doctors and consultants alike have been outraged by the failings of this current recruitment round for Specialty Training; the failings include technical problems, short and long-listing issues, excessive uncertainty, reduction in post numbers and a total lack of information from the Department of Health. The concerns of the BMA's Junior Doctors Committee (JDC) were cited as early as June 2004 (JDC Conference), and reiterated in July 2006 (The Call for Delay), but were wilfully ignored by the Department of Health who were determined to push through their ill-considered plans. This has resulted in a shambles, which has led to an unplanned increase in workload for consultants and further uncertainty for juniors.
We have exerted intense pressure on the Secretary of State, who has recently apologised publicly. We have followed this up with an unrelenting parliamentary and media campaign, along with the protest march which was attended by many concerned parties in March this year. I have written to the Prime Minister to voice my utter dismay at the appalling incompetence displayed and the fact that doctors have been so badly let down and to insist on action to sort this out. It is vital that we receive answers as to why the profession has been ignored on this issue and I will demand that explicit measures must be taken to address the loss of confidence of the profession.
While it has been important to give voice to the intensity of our concern, we have been determined not to walk away from constructively trying to ameliorate the situation in which many of our members find themselves and to focus our efforts primarily on ensuring that solutions are put in place to protect the interests of the individual doctors whose careers are at stake. The BMA is currently represented on the MTAS Review Group and we have already spoken with Sir John Tooke with regard to the independent review of Modernising Medical Careers, which he will chair. This review has been announced following strong calls from the BMA.
In the meantime, askBMA, Regional and National Offices continue to support individual doctors through this difficult time.
Please visit http://www.bma.org.uk/MTAS for the latest information. All press releases, Review Group details and BMA updates will be posted here. Each individual branch of practice committee will also keep members up to date with tailored information. Information we receive will be disseminated immediately ? through mass email or on the website.
Our profession is experiencing huge anger and frustration. It is imperative that this anger is directed, with force, against the right people. I am sure that united we will be able to ensure a better outcome for current and future applicants. I also hope that the Government will learn from this mistake and realise that the voice of the profession is not one they can afford to ignore.
Yours sincerely,
Mr James Johnson
Chairman, British Medical Association
