Most doctors will have been growingly aware of the problems around 'Modernising Medical Careers' (MMC) and a joint revolt by both juniors and seniors about the latest computer disasters culminated in a major Government climb down on 6 March.
The new
Medical Training Application Service (MTAS) is supposed to handle applications for higher training from those at SHO and registrar level. With estimates that 30,000 juniors are competing for 22,000 training places, a computer-based system was to produce shortlists of candidates suitable for interview. However, the online application forms record no objective measure of appropriateness (eg, no references) and many candidates whose careers have progressed well and whose competence is proven have been ignored at the expense of poorer quality candidates.
The website has crashed repeatedly, and there have been delays in publishing results. Those who are not shortlisted are not told why, or advised how to improve their applications before the second and final round of 'clearing' in May. There have been examples of very short notice for interviews at the other end of the country. Even successful applicants receive only one job offer, and if not accepted, the doctor has to wait a year before being considered again. Many individuals, couples, and families exist with uncertainty and face major upheavals. Some, including CMF members, are voting with their feet and moving overseas.
All this, coming on top of major debt and the
stress of junior jobs, has led to more anger in the profession than almost any of us can remember. 'MMC' has been nicknamed 'murdering medical careers' and 'mass medical cull'.
Protests from the BMA and a new pressure group, Reform UK, were ignored until a panel of senior surgeons in Birmingham walked out rather than interview candidates they thought had been selected unfairly. When the medical Royal Colleges weighed in too, the Government climbed down and announced an immediate review of the whole system, though this response has been described as 'too little, too late'.
Many younger CMF members have been caught up, and international medical graduates may face further problems. Whatever the eventual political outcome, there is, sadly, likely to be uncertainty for a long time to come. Please pray and offer what support you can where you can.
CMF West Midlands have held specific meetings about MMC and arranged a
Prayer Breakfast for Saturday 10 March.
