An inquiry is calling for fundamental changes to doctor training in the wake of the recruitment furore this year.
An inquiry is calling for fundamental changes to doctor training in the wake of the recruitment furore 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 and it would consider the report.
The Department of Health said there were lessons to be learned and it would consider the report.
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), which doctors say led to many excellent candidates not being offered jobs.
In particular, they were angered by the flawed online application system (MTAS), which doctors say led to many excellent candidates not being offered jobs.
The government has now confirmed that there will be no national IT system like MTAS next year and deaneries will be left to organise their own recruitment at a local level.
The government has now confirmed that there will be no national IT system like MTAS next year and deaneries will be left to organise their own recruitment at a local level.
There will also be staggered start days - this year all doctor contracts started on August 1.
There will also be staggered start days - this year all doctor contracts started on August 1.
The Tooke report said the new system was "rushed and poorly communicated", but it added the problems were exacerbated by the high number of overseas applications - 10,000 of the 28,000 came from abroad.
The Tooke report said the new system was "rushed and poorly communicated", but it added the problems were exacerbated by the high number of overseas applications - 10,000 of the 28,000 came from abroad.
The government has responded to this by announcing a consultation will take place over whether UK graduates should be given some kind of priority.
The government has responded to this by announcing a consultation will take place over whether UK graduates should be given some kind of priority.
Sir John said: "This has been a sorry episode for British postgraduate medicine, which has caused great distress to many trainees and their senior colleagues.
Sir John said: "This has been a sorry episode for British postgraduate medicine, which has caused great distress to many trainees and their senior colleagues.
"From this experience we must learn, and put in place the mechanisms to ensure that in the interests of the health of our population excellence prevails."
"From this experience we must learn, and put in place the mechanisms to ensure that in the interests of the health of our population excellence prevails."
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."
And Dr Chris McCullough, of doctors' campaign group Remedy UK, added: "The broadness and flexibility in training has all but gone."
And Dr Chris McCullough, of doctors' campaign group Remedy UK, added: "The broadness and flexibility in training has all but gone."
Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "Ministers must heed this stark warning and make changes immediately.
"The system was doomed from the outset, with no piloting and flawed central direction."
Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "We will consider Sir John's findings carefully.
Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "We will consider Sir John's findings carefully.
"We have learned important lessons from the problems with this year's recruitment process for junior doctors.
"We have learned important lessons from the problems with this year's recruitment process for junior doctors.
"Working with the medical profession, we need to ensure that future recruitment processes are soundly based and have the considered support of doctors and their representatives."
"Working with the medical profession, we need to ensure that future recruitment processes are soundly based and have the considered support of doctors and their representatives."
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.
