New Junior Doctor Recruitment Scheme slammed by NHS Trust
From Mmc
NEW JUNIOR DOCTOR RECRUITMENT SCHEME SLAMMED BY NHS TRUST
Date : 06.08.07
Members of Carmarthenshire NHS Trust have criticised the government's controversial system of recruiting junior doctors.The trust has put extra measures in place to ensure the safety of patients and junior doctors who started work this week.
Trust consultants were left not knowing how competent their new junior doctors are because the government's online recruiting system, Modernising Medical Careers, MMC, meant that they had no say in their selection.
Many junior doctors did not know where they had been placed the week before they were due to start. Speaking at the trust board meeting, medical director, Dr Peter Thomas said: "It's a national situation that's gone out of control.
"I think the whole exercise has been badly thought out and a disaster for young doctors. I think we will be able to cope but a lot of careers have been damaged by this.
"It's been appalling with people being shoe-horned into specialisms and jobs they don't want to do.
"There's safe back-up and precautions here to make sure it is as safe as can be for our patients and these junior doctors." The extra measures include freeing up consultants and middle- grade staff to conduct interviews of the new recruits to assess their competency during their first two days with the trust.
They will also be available for close supervision during their first two weeks. The board also agreed to record the trust's treatment of junior doctors so that lessons can be learned should the MMC continue next year.
Non-executive director Mike Theodoulou said: "It's the perfect example of the lunatics taking over the asylum. If I ran my business this way I wouldn't be here very long."
