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Government Review of MTAS |
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Written by Website Administrator
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Tuesday, 06 March 2007 |
Following discussion with the medical Royal Colleges and the BMA, the Department of Health today announced a review into Round One of Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) recruitment and selection into specialist training, made through the Medical Training and Application Service (MTAS).
The review will be led by Professor Neil Douglas, Vice President of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
The review will be completed by the end of March, so that any changes can be made in time for Round Two, which begins on 28 April 2007.
The terms of reference are to:
· understand what has worked and not worked to date
· identify and promote good practice
· recommend action to remedy any weaknesses, taking account of legal and operational constraints
· identify specifically what further action or guidance is required:
- immediately (or before completion of Round One)
- before commencement of Round Two
- before any subsequent rounds.
· develop improved arrangements for the support and care of applicants
MTAS is a new system by which doctors are selected and recruited for specialist training; it was launched in January this year ahead of the launch of Modernising Medical Careers Specialist Training Programme in August 2007.
Doctors have been applying for their preferred specialist-training programme since 22nd January 2007. The first round of interviews began last week.
Recruitment into specialist training is, and has always been a very competitive process. Any doctors who were not granted an interview in the first round of recruitment will have the opportunity to apply for the second round of recruitment. Interviewers have always been encouraged to appoint the most suitable candidates to posts in round one, with round two enabling further post matching.
Both MMC and the new application process were developed with the help of stakeholders, including the medical royal colleges and trainee doctors. We will continue to work with them to ensure that trainee doctors are properly supported and fairly treated, and that the NHS is able to train and
recruit the best doctors for the future.
MMC was a response to a real need for change on behalf of patients, the health service and doctors alike to implement new, transparent, postgraduate medical training programmes so that doctors could be trained and supervised properly, to nationally recognised standards.
Dame Carol Black, the President of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said:
"The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges welcomes the Government's decision to carry out an immediate review of the Medical Training Application Service, the new system by which doctors are now selected and placed for specialist training.
"The Academy will work with the Department in the review, to ensure the necessary action is taken to remedy faults and to restore confidence."
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 06 March 2007 )
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