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BMA Junior Doctor Committee update 9 August 2007

9 August 2007

The last few weeks will have been hectic for you, so here’s an update from the JDC in case you’ve missed anything. As well as letting you know about our lobbying, there’s practical guidance for anyone still encountering problems.

Changeover, the media, and the CMO
Last week, tens of thousands of you, many of you completely drained by your experience of MTAS, started new posts. The fact that patient safety was protected despite the catastrophic implementation of MMC speaks volumes about the professionalism of juniors and consultants alike. It does not mean that the government is absolved of responsibility, and we have repeated our call for the Chief Medical Officer’s resignation. See story and letter from the BMA in today’s Daily Telegraph at:
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/09/nbma109.xml

Read the full list of media coverage on changeover and MTAS.

Your entitlement to relocation expenses
A mass relocation of junior doctors has just occurred and we weren’t surprised to receive so many complaints about employers that are reluctant to reimburse doctors. If you are required:

• to relocate“in the interests of the service”, or
• further your training in order to take up an appointment, or
• are given approval for a subsequent move during your employment, or
• a change is made to your base place of work (generally by the deanery when on a rotation)

you are normally entitled to claim expenses for removals or travel expenses if not moving.

NHS Employer’s full guidance on removals for England, Wales and Northern Ireland is available on their website at: - www.nhsemployers.org/pay-conditions/pay-conditions-467.cfm

In Scotland, details of each NHS Board’s relocation and removal expenses policy is available on the MMC Scotland website and can be found at the following link: www.mmc.scot.nhs.uk/Medical_Students/specialtygp.asp.

If you have problems getting what you are entitled to, contact askBMA on 0870 60 60 828.

Job transfer scheme in England
In case you missed the details in a previous email, the Department of Health has issued rules for a job transfer scheme, details here –
www.mmc.nhs.uk/pages/news/article?4D6C59BB-06A1-44C4-B94D-F8587BC39EB5

Login and read our FAQs if you have any questions on job transfer schemes.

If you are applying for the scheme, please copy us in to any application so we can assist you if you come into any difficulties – info.jdc@bma.org.uk

We think the job transfer scheme is inadequate. It does not cover everyone wishing to relocate and we are continuing to push for a relaxation of the current Inter-Deanery Transfer rules. If you do not fall into the job transfer criteria, but would still like to move, email us at info.jdc@bma.org.uk, so we can collect evidence to put pressure on the Department of Health and the Deaneries.

Free Careers workshop
Following the success of similar events earlier in the year, we are running a careers workshop on 1 September 2007 at BMA House in London. There’ll be practical information and expert advice for everyone, Whether you are looking for posts in Round 2, considering a change of specialty, or planning ahead for 2008. Attendance is free to junior doctors who are BMA members, but places are limited and will be issued on a first come first served basis. If you would like to attend email your details to info.bmacareers@bma.org.uk.

You will be notified by 21 August if you have a place. If you don’t we’ll be running more workshops in the near future in different locations.

Confused?
Have you turned up to a post that was not as described?
Has your free accommodation been removed at short notice?
Has your on call room disappeared?
Is your rota not what you expected, or not what your predecessors had worked?
Are you still unemployed despite being eligible for the employment promise?
If so, please email info.jdc@bma.org.uk with further information so we can take action for you.

Regional Junior Doctors Committee elections
The JDC is a democratic body. If you’re not happy with us, it’s easy to get involved and change things.

You don’t have to be a member to get involved, so come along if you want your voice to be heard.

Members - login to visit your Regional Junior Doctors Committee page now to find out the date for the first meeting of the year (www.bma.org.uk/rjdcweb.nsf/vtwp?OpenForm&Login).

Nonmembers - read more here.

BMA Doctors for doctors
The BMA understands that this is a particularly stressful time for all doctors. If you would like to talk to someone about your concerns please do not hesitate to call our doctors for doctors unit on 08459 200 169.

MMC Forum
The JDC has membership on the Programme Board that has been set up to assist the implementation of the Tooke Review inquiry into MMC. We need your input so have set up a web forum - www.bma.org.uk/mmcforum1.nsf/alltopics?OpenView&Login

We will paste updates and minutes from the meetings here first, so please visit and share your thoughts.

Scottish Junior Doctors Committee (SJDC) Survey on the future recruitment and selection to specialty training in Scotland
As you may be aware, SJDC is turning its attention to the future recruitment and selection to specialty training in Scotland. SJDC will be participating in a workshop being held by the Scottish Executive in September on the future recruitment and selection to specialty training in Scotland which, along with the interim report from a UK-wide independent review by Professor Sir John Tooke, will significantly influence a way forward for 2008 onwards.

The SJDC is seeking the views of all junior doctors in Scotland on the future recruitment and selection process for specialty training in Scotland to influence this workshop and to inform SJDC policy.

The survey has been sent by post to all junior doctors in Scotland for whom we have contact details. If you are a junior doctor based in Scotland and have not received a copy of the survey, please contact Amanda Downing in the BMA’s Health Policy and Economic Research Unit to request a copy (adowning@bma.org.uk).

We appreciate that it is a very busy time, however, your input is extremely important to us and we would be grateful if you can spare a few minutes to complete the questionnaire.

Finally…..
Be sure to visit the BMA website (www.bma.org.uk) for any further updates and to check you haven’t missed anything useful in the past few weeks.

Yours sincerely,

Jo Hilborne
Chairman
Junior Doctors Committee
BMA