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Modernising Medical Careers 2008 – How this affects consultants

December 2007

The process for the 2008 recruitment round and the number of training posts that the Department of Health will make available will be announced shortly. This letter is to outline some of the actions we advise all consultants to consider urgently.

Full details will be available via the MMC website (www.mmc.nhs.uk) and the BMA (www.bma.org.uk) website will provide updates whenever we have them.

The BMA is continuing the fight on your behalf to reduce the pressure and distress of the coming 2008 specialty recruitment round. However it is clear it will be as difficult or more difficult that last year. In addition to supporting junior doctors, we are committed to helping consultants manage the burden and minimise the impact on service.

Process Key Points

• No central computer system in 2008
• No limit to number of applications, though no guarantee of interview
• Local recruitment processes for most specialties.
• National recruitment mechanisms (specialty-specific) for:
  Plastic Surgery ST3 - Public Health - General Practice
  Cardiothoracic Surgery ST3, - Paediatric Surgery ST3 - Paediatrics & Child Health
  Neurosurgery ST3 & ?ST1 - Obstetrics and Gyaenecology - Histopathology
• The first recruitment round will run from 5th January until 16th May 2008, for posts commencing August 2008; There will be up to three recruitment rounds in the year.

Service Provision
All recruitment, application, shortlisting and interviews will take place in a tight time, as above. The precise schedules will vary by Deanery and Specialty. It is possible that fewer interviews overall may be conducted. However there are likely to be many more applications to consider and to shortlist.

Absence of both consultants and trainees could disrupt services and we advise you to meet with colleagues to plan for this possibility.

Actions Recommended

• Check the schedule for shortlisting / interview dates for your specialty
• Ensure that you have adequate time built in to your job plan for any shortlisting or interview work.
• Ensure your Trust and colleagues are aware of the dates that you will be absent
• Identify which trainees will be affected and ensure that they advise their interview date(s) to you as soon as possible (noting that many interviews will be with other Deaneries)
• Plan for a possible need for reduced service during identified times; ensure that bookings offices and service co-ordinators are aware and understand potential reduced staffing levels
• Plan emergency cover well in advance. Does your LNC have agreements with your Trust to adequately cover absent trainees? Guidance can be found in the Consultant Handbook, which can be accessed through the BMA website.

Supporting Trainees
The impact on trainees from the 2007 crisis is well documented. The 2008 round may well be even more difficult for trainees. Consultant colleagues can help by having up to date and accurate information so that they can best advise and support trainees. We will try to keep the BMA’s MMC web-pages as up
to date as possible and we are pressurising the DH and MMC Team to provide regular information updates as well as careers support and advice.

Further Information
Please check the BMA and MMC websites regularly, and feed back to us with any additional knowledge you can contribute via info.ccsc@bma.org.uk.

Dr Ian Wilson,
Deputy Chairman, BMA Central Consultants and Specialists Committee