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MTAS: the Review Group’s latest agreement for a way forward for doctors applying in England

5 April 2007

Dear Colleague

You will be aware that the Department of Health created a group to review the crisis created by the Medical Training Application System and that the BMA had withdrawn from these discussions at a time when the proposals on offer were unacceptable.

It became clear that the Government would not entertain scrapping Round 1 completely nor did this option have the universal support of the profession. In light of this the BMA needed to ensure that any outcomes from the group would get the best possible outcome and do as little damage to as few doctors as possible. In putting pressure on the Department of Health further proposals have been developed that were worthy of consideration from within the group and the BMA have thus been working to rescue what can be rescued from the MTAS debacle.

Continuing to meet with the group has been a difficult decision, and one taken only after intense discussion within the JDC and only if significant improvements to the proposals were forthcoming. However it was felt that without the JDC being involved in the process, junior doctors would be unrepresented and an unsatisfactory process would be imposed leaving junior doctors much worse off.

Following close discussion, JDC and CCSC re-attended the group to help facilitate a better outcome for junior doctors and ensure representation of the position of consultants in these discussions.
Read the details of this rescue package for Round 1 online. The Review Group have agreed to publish regular updates and fact sheets on www.mmc.nhs.uk and www.mtas.nhs.uk

Much remains to be done to make Round 2 a fair and robust a process.

We are also calling for
1. A full and independent review of both the application process and MMC
2. A clear process led and developed by the profession to establish an evidence-based and workable system for 2008
3. A change in the culture that has led to the profession’s concerns throughout this process being derided and ignored

No one would wish us to be in this position but this is a rescue mission - the result of inadequate professional involvement and failure to listen to our concerns. We believe that no better options are feasible or workable at this time.

It is vital that the profession takes the lead from now on. Without this there will be more damage not just to a generation of Junior Doctors but to the patients we are here to treat.

With best wishes

Dr Jo Hilborne
Chairman
Junior Doctors Committee

Dr Jonathan Fielden
Chairman
Central Consultants and Specialists Committee

Advice to applicants
The Review Group will be producing a fact sheet for all applicants that will be published today so make sure you check www.mmc.nhs.uk and www.mtas.nhs.uk as often as possible for the latest news. The JDC web pages will also continue to be updated with latest developments and we have developed some FAQs that you can access here andhere.

News from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Review Group’s announcement in England does not affect the decision made last week by Scotland and Wales to offer all eligible applicants interviews for the programmes to which they have applied. The latest updates for applicants who have applied to Scotland and Wales can be found here:

Scotland
http://www.mmc.scot.nhs.uk/

Wales
http://www.mmcwales.org/00_-press_-statement.doc/view
For FAQs please follow the following link:
http://www.mmcwales.org/specialty-training/revisedspecialtytrainingrecruitmentinwalesfinaldraft.pdf/view

Latest news! Update from Northern Ireland
In a joint statement today, the BMA(NI) and Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) said that all eligible junior doctors who have applied to work in Northern Ireland will be offered interviews for specialist training posts.

Dr Rajesh Rajendran, Chairman of the BMA’s Junior Doctors’ Committee in Northern Ireland (NIJDC) said: “We are pleased to have found a solution to the very serious problems involving the process of recruiting junior doctors. Chaos has surrounded this system and the end result has been a huge reduction in the morale of this particular group of doctors. It has led to lack of career security with their families potentially being forced apart and a fear of being left jobless and financially crippled.

“NIJDC has worked hard with the Chief Medical Officer and the Post Graduate Dean to help find a solution. We welcome the initiative taken by the DHSSPS whereby all eligible applicants who have applied to Northern Ireland will be offered an interview for each application they have made.

“This is a sensible solution which I believe junior doctors in Northern Ireland can support.”

The joint statement from the BMA(NI) and DHSSPS can be found here - http://www.bma.org.uk/pressrel.nsf/wlu/ARON-6ZYJ7B?OpenDocument&vw=wfmms