MTAS--where are we now?

doi:10.1136/bmj.39188.477002.59

BMJ 2007;334:824-825 (21 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.39188.477002.59

Feature

Briefing

MTAS—where are we now?

Colleen Shannon, freelance medical journalist

colleenshannonuk@yahoo.co.uk

As the UK's medical training fiasco continues, Colleen Shannontakes a detailed snapshot of where trainees currently stand

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

Each year thousands of junior doctors compete fiercely for trainingposts in the NHS. These posts lead eventually to the covetedtitle of consultant, and the route has never been an easy one.However, junior doctors say that recent reforms of the selectionand training system have made this one of the worst years ever.

There are three parts to the problem. Firstly, a new, centralisedselection process is being introduced. It has been plagued withproblems, and as a result the shortlisting process for the latestrecruitment round has collapsed. There have been claims thatthe medical training application system (MTAS, see box) failedto pick up all the best candidates and that many excellent doctorswere not shortlisted for interview. Also, junior doctors wererequired to apply online, but the MTAS website suffered technicalproblems at a critical time in the process. The process is nowbehind schedule, . . . [Full text of this article]

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This article has been cited by other articles:

Whelan, P., Jarrett, P., Meerten, M., Forster, K., Bhugra, D. (2007). MTAS fiasco: lessons for psychiatry. Psychiatr. Bull. 31: 425-427 [Abstract] [Full text]
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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

A small but important correction: Andrew Clegg
bmj.com, 22 Apr 2007 [Full text]
MTAS where are we now: John B Cookson
bmj.com, 28 Apr 2007 [Full text]
Learned Helplessness: Doctor's in the MTAS experiment?: Asif M Bachlani
bmj.com, 4 May 2007 [Full text]
Learned Helplessness: Oliver R Dearlove
bmj.com, 6 May 2007 [Full text]
Re: Learned Helplessness: Tony Delamothe, et al.
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