This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/6677985.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Doctor training court ruling due Junior doctors lose court fight
(3 days later)
A group representing thousands of junior doctors is due to learn if its legal challenge over appointments to training places has succeeded. Junior doctors have lost their High Court battle to invalidate their NHS job application process.
Remedy UK says the MTAS system has been such a shambles that current training appointments should be made temporary. Pressure group Remedy UK had challenged the legitimacy of a new computerised application system, calling for medics to be re-interviewed for posts.
It says doctors should be allowed to re-apply under a fairer system next year. The government had already agreed the forthcoming second round of interviews should use the old CV-based system.
The British Medical Association opposes this, saying it would be harsh on those who have been successful so far. The judge ruled against invalidating the interviews already done but said medics were justified to feel angry.
According to the BMA, the current system, though far from perfect, is the best available in the circumstances Mr Justice Goldring said the premature introduction of the new system has had disastrous consequences - and although the legal challenge has failed many junior doctors have "an entirely justifiable sense of grievance".
But Remedy UK says no-one's career should be ruined as a result of the current flawed process. We understand the uncertainty that problems with the system has caused junior doctors and their families, and acknowledge the criticisms that the judgement contains Lord Hunt, health minister class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6683711.stm">Health Secretary under fire class="" href="/1/hi/health/6676385.stm">Doctors on the edge class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6685153.stm">'This has damaged morale'
In its application for a judicial review, it said the computerised system was "unfair" and junior doctors should be re-interviewed for posts. He added individual medics might still have good grounds for appeal under employment law.
The government said interviews done so far should stand, but a CV-based system could be used in the next round. The British Medical Association had not supported the Remedy UK challenge.
Junior doctors are very anxious about this. It has been one mistake after another and morale has been harmed Remedy UK spokesman While it had been highly critical of the new system, it said invalidating the first round of interviews would just "prolong the agony".
MTAS (Medical Training Application Services) has been dogged by controversy in recent months. The Medical Training Application Service (MTAS) has been dogged by controversy in recent months.
The system was introduced as part of the Modernising Medical Careers initiative aimed at cutting the number of years of training needed for doctors to reach consultant level.The system was introduced as part of the Modernising Medical Careers initiative aimed at cutting the number of years of training needed for doctors to reach consultant level.
MTAS was designed to speed up the selection process, but doctors said the forms were badly worded, did not ask pertinent questions or allow them to set out relevant qualifications and experience, and had no facility for attaching a CV.MTAS was designed to speed up the selection process, but doctors said the forms were badly worded, did not ask pertinent questions or allow them to set out relevant qualifications and experience, and had no facility for attaching a CV.
This resulted in many doctors not being selected for their first-choice hospital, and a significant number not getting any interviews at all. This resulted in many doctors not being selected for their first-choice NHS trusts, and a significant number not getting any interviews at all.
Junior doctors applying to start their specialist training this year are having to compete for a limited number of training places with those who are part-way through their training under the old system. Junior doctors applying to start their specialist training this year are having to compete for a limited number of training places with those who are part-way through their training under the old system under the Modernising Medical Careers initiative.
It means over 30,000 doctors are chasing about 20,000 specialist training places. There will still be thousands of NHS jobs available, but these will not count towards their training to becoming a GP or senior doctor.
CVsCVs
It means over 30,000 doctors are chasing about 20,000 specialist training places. There will still be thousands of NHS jobs available, but these will not count towards their training to becoming a GP or senior doctor.
Ministers have already announced that after the first recruitment round, MTAS will not be used again this year, leaving follow-up recruitment rounds probably involving about 7,000 posts dependent on more traditional CVs.Ministers have already announced that after the first recruitment round, MTAS will not be used again this year, leaving follow-up recruitment rounds probably involving about 7,000 posts dependent on more traditional CVs.
This move has been supported by the BMA, which has argued scrapping the system would just "prolong the agony".
Remedy UK was originally arguing for the system to be scrapped, and all the interviews carried out again.Remedy UK was originally arguing for the system to be scrapped, and all the interviews carried out again.
But it has now called for the appointments which are due in a couple of weeks from the first round of interviews to be made on a temporary basis - as there would not be enough time to complete its preferred process by 1 August when the doctors have to be in place. But it then called for the appointments which are due in a couple of weeks from the first round of interviews to be made on a temporary basis - as there would not be enough time to complete its preferred process by 1 August when the doctors have to be in place.
It then wants the whole appointment process redone in six or 12 months' time. It had argued that the whole appointment process could then be redone in six or 12 months' time.
The judge is expected to make his decision public on Wednesday. A spokesman for Remedy UK called it a "sad day" for junior doctors, but said the group would not be appealing the decision.
A Remedy UK spokesman said: "Junior doctors are very anxious about this. It has been one mistake after another and morale has been harmed." "We are bitterly disappointed. The judgment accepts that the careers and lives of thousands of talented doctors in this country may be harmed."
The BMA has called for a guarantee that no junior doctor will be unemployed as a result of the current crisis. Health Minister Lord Hunt said the government would now be working to establish the best possible way forward to match doctors to posts.
It also wants the creation of a new group, led by doctors, to design the future of medical training. "We understand the uncertainty that problems with the system has caused junior doctors and their families, and acknowledge the criticisms that the judgement contains."
Dr Sam Everington, BMA deputy chairman, said: "This is one of the worst crises ever to hit medicine in the UK. Dr Jo Hilborne, chairman of the BMA junior doctors committee, said the handling of the whole situation was a "mess" and "the careers of thousands of doctors remain in doubt because of government failures".
"Thousands of expensively trained doctors are having to live with terrible job insecurity, despite the fact that the NHS is still understaffed."