BMJ  2007;334:508-509 (10 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.39146.640613.59

Observations

The week in medicine

How specialist training reform sparked crisis of confidence

Computer crashes, 8000 angry junior doctors fearing unemployment, and talk of a shambolic and corrupt selection process have dominated recent coverage of Modernising Medical Careers

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Last month an estimated 30 000 junior doctors became the guinea pigs for a new and untested system for filling specialist training places within the NHS. Around 20 000 are UK doctors either currently employed as senior house officers or emerging from the foundation stage. The remaining 10 000 who have registered for training places are from the European Union or other overseas candidates.

All junior doctors have had their contracts terminated from August and have had to apply for jobs through the online service MTAS (Medical Training Application Services), which by last week had descended into "pandemonium," according to the BMA.

Emotions were running high even before the service went live at the end of January. With only 22 000 posts available, and 30 000 eligible candidates, 8000 doctors faced an uncertain future. The BMA's beef is not with the number of posts, which is roughly the same as . . . [Full text of this article]

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Borland, C. (2007). Good candidates surface in MTAS. BMJ 334: 601-601 [Full text]  
• Eccles, S. J A (2007). In defence of MMC and MTAS. BMJ 334: 601-601 [Full text]  
• Macdonald, P. D (2007). How can we cure MTAS?. BMJ 334: 601-601 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

MTAS and MMC- 'Massive Medical Cull'?

Kerstin A Akporehwe, et al.
bmj.com, 9 Mar 2007 [Full text]

Unfair

Mike Harrison
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Jay Ilangaratne
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How to shoot both feet off?

Michael Bird
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No choice for the lucky few

Sadat A Edroos
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In Defence of MMC and MTAS

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Re: In Defence of MMC and MTAS

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lack of fair representation in the BMJ

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Lack of training posts is the main issue

Jiun Tuan
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Online poll

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