New system threatens UK clinical research

doi:10.1136/bmj.39164.423449.1F

BMJ 2007;334:652 (31 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.39164.423449.1F

Letters

MTAS

New system threatens UK clinical research

We are committed to the development of a professional medicalworkforce, able to contribute to national health, wealth, andknowledge creation. To achieve this we must identify and nurturea strong cadre of clinical academics for the future, buildingon the opportunities afforded by the recent UK funding schemes.It has therefore been particularly disappointing that the newsystem of application to specialist medical training (MTAS)has paid scant regard to the determinants of academic potential.¹

Academic trainees—those doctors wishing to pursue careersthat encompass research as well as patient care—have beenparticularly badly affected by the decision to anonymise applicationsand deprive the assessors of details of previous clinical andresearch experience. These trainees, who are among the brightestof their generation, are a precious commodity.

Without a scientifically informed and research oriented medicalworkforce throughout the country, the government's vision ofthe UK as a world class centre for biomedical research and healthcare, cannot be realised.

J Bell, president¹, John Tooke, chair²

¹ Academy of Medical Sciences, London SW1Y 5AH, ² Council of Heads of Medical Schools, London WC1H 9HD

nick.hillier{at}acmedsci.ac.uk

Competing interests: None declared.