Free accommodation for Welsh juniors hailed as BMA victory
Wales's decision to maintain free accommodation for new juniors was welcomed as a major victory by the BMA as students stepped up their campaign.
BMA medical students committee chair Ian Noble told the ARM that the loss of hospital digs elsewhere in the UK was a 'betrayal' by the government.
He slept outside in a tent during the ARM to launch the next stage of the BMA’s campaign - a camp out protest for students set to be held on July 18.
'Medical students are furious, they feel betrayed,' he said. 'Betrayed by a government purporting to have a widening participation agenda.'
Doctors and student leaders have waged a fervent protest in recent months against the government's decision to axe accommodation for FHO1s (foundation house officer 1s). Each new doctor will have to find an average of £4,800 in rent next year despite qualifying with record levels of debt.
Changes to the Medical Act 1983, which enshrined juniors' rights to free accommodation because of the need to be resident in the hospital, were enacted last year. They come into full force next month.
Welsh health and social services minister Edwina Hart reached her decision to keep free accommodation for FHO1s following meetings with BMA Cymru Wales and the Welsh postgraduate deanery.
It is a significant success for the BMA’s No Room for More Student Debt campaign, launched earlier this year.
Newly qualified London FHO1 Matthew Forbes told the conference hospital accommodation would cost him £7,200 next year, on top of his £35,000 debt.
BMA council chairman Hamish Meldrum, in his opening ARM speech, said the removal of free accommodation was an 'abominable' decision which was a scandal and insult to future doctors.
* Doctors leaders called for a halt to stricter control on medical student places and an embargo on new medical schools.
Manchester consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon David Sochart said an increase in numbers will 'devalue [doctors] and end up selling them on the cheap, with some or many left on the shelf'.
The profession could not risk another lost tribe of juniors, he said.
Coventry GP Grant Ingrams said the over-production of doctors wasted money and would 'encourage the NHS to abuse doctors'.
However Swansea obs and gynae consultant Paul Flynn argued careful workforce planning was the answer, not tighter restrictions.