Selection for specialist training: what can we learn from other countries?

doi:10.1136/bmj.39238.447338.AD

BMJ 2007;334:1302-1304 (23 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.39238.447338.AD

Analysis

Selection for specialist training: what can we learn from other countries?

Tony Jefferis, associate postgraduate dean

Oxford Deanery Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education, Oxford OX3 7LP

afjefferis@uk-consultants.co.uk

The chaos surrounding the UK's centralised application serviceled to the system being abandoned. Tony Jefferis examines howsimilar systems work elsewhere

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

The UK Medical Training Application Service (MTAS) for specialisttraining had a bad start. Doctors were angry at its inefficienciesand unfairness.¹ ² Many reasons were cited for its problemsincluding using an untried system,³ using the same system fornew entrants as for those already committed to a specialty,underestimating the numbers of international medical graduatesapplying, using a flawed computer system, and, finally, bucklingto public outcry by revising the timetable and conditions ofapplication. The secretary of state for health apologised inthe House of Commons, the website closed for a security review,and the system was eventually abandoned.

Despite all this, a central application portal with local selectionhas considerable merit. It has been used successfully in theUnited States, Canada, and, in a modified form, in Australiaand New Zealand for at least 30 years (box). It provides anorderly and transparent way for candidates to . . . [Full text of this article]

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Pashayan, N., Duff, C., Mason, B. W. (2007). Selection into specialty training in public health: performance of the Medical Training Application Service shortlisting. J Public Health (Oxf) 29: 331-337 [Abstract] [Full text]
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Rapid Responses:

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