An independent inquiry is calling for fundamental changes to doctor training reforms in the wake of the recruitment furore earlier this year.
An independent inquiry is calling for fundamental changes to doctor training reforms in the wake of the recruitment furore earlier this year.
The government-commissioned report focuses on how medics progress from junior doctors to consultants.
The government-commissioned report focuses on how medics progress from junior doctors to consultants.
Author Professor Sir John Tooke said the Modernising Medical Careers training system, introduced in 2005, did not provide broad-based experience.
Author Professor Sir John Tooke said the Modernising Medical Careers training system, introduced in 2005, did not provide broad-based experience.
The Department of Health said there were lessons to be learned.
The Department of Health said there were lessons to be learned.
Profound concerns
Profound concerns
Under MMC, juniors could reach consultant level in an average of 11 years, rather than the current 14, by encouraging trainees to chose a specialty, such as surgery, earlier on in their career.
Under MMC, juniors could reach consultant level in an average of 11 years, rather than the current 14, by encouraging trainees to chose a specialty, such as surgery, earlier on in their career.
But the Tooke report says this is unlikely to encourage or reward striving for excellence, or allow enough flexibility both for doctors and for the NHS's ever-changing workforce requirements.
But the Tooke report says this is unlikely to encourage or reward striving for excellence, or allow enough flexibility both for doctors and for the NHS's ever-changing workforce requirements.
There are also concerns regarding the preparedness of someone certified as trained under the new system for the consultant role, it says.
There are also concerns regarding the preparedness of someone certified as trained under the new system for the consultant role, it says.
The report recommends doctors be given more years of broad experience training before following a specialist route.
The report recommends doctors be given more years of broad experience training before following a specialist route.
The training has become too rigid. We are training for competency rather than excellence Dr Ram Moorthy, chairman of the British Medical Association's Junior Doctors Committee
The training has become too rigid. We are training for competency rather than excellence Dr Ram Moorthy, chairman of the British Medical Association's Junior Doctors Committee
Doctors have campaigned hard against the revamped medical training system.
Doctors have campaigned hard against the revamped medical training system.
In particular, they were angered by the flawed online application system (MTAS) and the limited number of training posts.
In particular, they were angered by the flawed online application system (MTAS) and the limited number of training posts.
Although most agreed with the original core principles of MMC and the need for reform, few are happy with the way MMC has panned out.
Although most agreed with the original core principles of MMC and the need for reform, few are happy with the way MMC has panned out.
Dr Chris McCullough, of doctors' campaign group Remedy UK, said: "A lot of the fundamentals were lost.
Dr Chris McCullough, of doctors' campaign group Remedy UK, said: "A lot of the fundamentals were lost.
"The broadness and flexibility in training has all but gone.
"The broadness and flexibility in training has all but gone.
"MMC asks doctors to pick their specialty in training 18 months out of medical school, yet we know that in the first five years after graduation doctors find it very difficult to chose a specialty and a quarter change specialty."
"MMC asks doctors to pick their specialty in training 18 months out of medical school, yet we know that in the first five years after graduation doctors find it very difficult to chose a specialty and a quarter change specialty."
Dr Ram Moorthy, chairman of the British Medical Association's Junior Doctors Committee, said: "We did need a reform of the old system to provide more structured training of junior doctors.
Dr Ram Moorthy, chairman of the British Medical Association's Junior Doctors Committee, said: "We did need a reform of the old system to provide more structured training of junior doctors.
"But the training has become too rigid. We are training for competency rather than excellence. I hope the review will address this.
"But the training has become too rigid. We are training for competency rather than excellence. I hope the review will address this.
"We need to select the best doctors for jobs and provide high quality training so they can provide the best care for patients."
"We need to select the best doctors for jobs and provide high quality training so they can provide the best care for patients."
Sir John said: "It was a rushed, untrialed, poorly communicated system."
Sir John said: "It was a rushed, untrialled, poorly communicated system."
But he said the problems were also compounded by the large number of overseas applications - 10,000.
But he said the problems were also compounded by the large number of overseas applications - 10,000.
He said it could take two or three years to properly bed in a new system.
He said it could take two or three years to properly bed in a new system.
But he added: "Whatever else this inquiry achieves, the distress caused to the next generation of specialists and senior doctors must never be repeated."
But he added: "Whatever else this inquiry achieves, the distress caused to the next generation of specialists and senior doctors must never be repeated."
Have you been affected by the issues covered in this story? Are you a junior doctor? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
Have you been affected by the issues covered in this story? Are you a junior doctor? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
