Letter from Chief Medical Officer Wales - Medical Training Application Service update
May 2007
Dear Colleagues
You will be aware that Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have decided to use the ‘interview all eligible’ approach to MTAS. This was felt to be the fairest approach to take on an extended Round one basis. We have had professional support for this approach in Wales. You will also be aware of the continuing work by the MMC Review Group, chaired by Prof Neil Douglas, which has been attempting to bring resolution in England which does have an impact on us too.
In the weeks since the decision the Welsh Assembly Government and the Wales Deanery have been working with NHS Wales to develop the detailed operational planning for Wales. This has been a complex piece of work which has been challenging but which meets the requirements for MMC and PMETB; works in the best interests of applicants to Wales and ensures that patient care across NHS Wales is maintained throughout. I am grateful to the clinicians and managers who have made a supreme effort to get the task completed.
This process remains controversial and I thought that an update on progress would help communicate the current plans. I attach an outline of the approach that the Deanery has put in place in Wales for completing interviews and making offers and a timetable. An extended round of interviews is currently in progress, with a completion date of 31st May. As each specialty completes their interviews, offers will be made to successful applicants on a rolling basis.
We understand the significant concerns that have been expressed over the process to recruit training grade doctors to specialty training across the UK. In Wales we have strived to quality assure the extended interview round which we have adopted and that eligible candidates have been treated in an equitable manner. We remain convinced that the interviews have been conducted consistently and are a fair basis for selecting candidates.
The lessons learned from implementing MMC for Wales and the experience with the selection and recruitment process will be carefully considered and reflected upon in Wales. These lessons will be communicated to the Independent Review of MTAS/MMC, which is being chaired by Professor Sir John Tooke. I will update you again in due course.
Yours sincerely
Dr Tony Jewell
Chief Medical Officer Wales