Menu
20/09/2005
Thousands of doctors ‘out of work’, BMA claims
Thousands of junior doctors in England and Wales are unable to find posts, the British Medical Association has claimed.
The BMA has warned that previous figures may have ‘underestimated’ the problems facing trainee doctors attempting to find work and has urged the Department of Health to address the problem.
According to the BMA’s latest survey, of nearly 700 doctors, almost one in ten had been unable to find work as a doctor in the UK. The Association said that the figure would translate to as many as 3,000 doctors across the UK.
The Department of Health has rejected the claims and described them as “misleading”. However, the Conservatives have accused the government of being “in denial” over the problem.
The BMA also said that over 300 junior doctors had contacted the BMA independently of the survey to say that they had been unable to find posts.
More worryingly, the survey found that around a third (35%) of respondents to the survey were no longer looking for work in the NHS, with many seeking posts in Australia or New Zealand. The BMA said that this equated to a loss of around 900 doctors if the pattern applied across England and Wales.
The BMA said that intense competition for training posts had been the result of an increase in the numbers of doctors graduating from medical school, as well as a rise in the number of overseas doctors hoping to train in the UK. Reforms to the medical training structure have also been blamed for the phasing out of some long-term posts.
Commenting on the findings, Dr Jo Hilborne, chair-elect of the BMA’s Junior Doctors Committee, said: “We know there’s a problem, and we’re keen to work with the government to help deal with it. These are people who are desperate to work for the NHS, and have spent years of their lives in training at a huge cost to the taxpayer. Patients’ healthcare needs are growing, the country is still short of doctors, and we should be doing everything we can to prevent their skills from being wasted. Many doctors are on short-term contracts that expire in February, and unless something is done very quickly, we’re going to have the same problems all over again.”
The BMA has called for improved workforce planning and the introduction of a system where overseas doctors do not come to the UK unless they have at least a provisional offer of a training post. Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: “The government is in denial about this problem and have completely failed to address it. We urgently need to provide more resources to create senior training posts to redress the bottleneck.”
(KMcA)
The BMA has warned that previous figures may have ‘underestimated’ the problems facing trainee doctors attempting to find work and has urged the Department of Health to address the problem.
According to the BMA’s latest survey, of nearly 700 doctors, almost one in ten had been unable to find work as a doctor in the UK. The Association said that the figure would translate to as many as 3,000 doctors across the UK.
The Department of Health has rejected the claims and described them as “misleading”. However, the Conservatives have accused the government of being “in denial” over the problem.
The BMA also said that over 300 junior doctors had contacted the BMA independently of the survey to say that they had been unable to find posts.
More worryingly, the survey found that around a third (35%) of respondents to the survey were no longer looking for work in the NHS, with many seeking posts in Australia or New Zealand. The BMA said that this equated to a loss of around 900 doctors if the pattern applied across England and Wales.
The BMA said that intense competition for training posts had been the result of an increase in the numbers of doctors graduating from medical school, as well as a rise in the number of overseas doctors hoping to train in the UK. Reforms to the medical training structure have also been blamed for the phasing out of some long-term posts.
Commenting on the findings, Dr Jo Hilborne, chair-elect of the BMA’s Junior Doctors Committee, said: “We know there’s a problem, and we’re keen to work with the government to help deal with it. These are people who are desperate to work for the NHS, and have spent years of their lives in training at a huge cost to the taxpayer. Patients’ healthcare needs are growing, the country is still short of doctors, and we should be doing everything we can to prevent their skills from being wasted. Many doctors are on short-term contracts that expire in February, and unless something is done very quickly, we’re going to have the same problems all over again.”
The BMA has called for improved workforce planning and the introduction of a system where overseas doctors do not come to the UK unless they have at least a provisional offer of a training post. Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: “The government is in denial about this problem and have completely failed to address it. We urgently need to provide more resources to create senior training posts to redress the bottleneck.”
(KMcA)
Related Northern Ireland Recruitment News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
30 June 2005
Medical graduates ‘not prepared’ for NHS work
Medical school does not prepare doctors for the reality of working in the NHS, a survey by the British Medical Association (BMA) has claimed. The survey, published at the BMA’s annual conference, tracked 543 doctors who qualified in 1995 for ten years.
Medical graduates ‘not prepared’ for NHS work
Medical school does not prepare doctors for the reality of working in the NHS, a survey by the British Medical Association (BMA) has claimed. The survey, published at the BMA’s annual conference, tracked 543 doctors who qualified in 1995 for ten years.
19 August 2011
Pension Changes Enrage NI Doctors
Doctors are up in arms today over proposed changes to their pensions that they claim could see them pay an extra £200,000 more over the course of their careers - but for a much worse deal on retirement.
Pension Changes Enrage NI Doctors
Doctors are up in arms today over proposed changes to their pensions that they claim could see them pay an extra £200,000 more over the course of their careers - but for a much worse deal on retirement.
10 October 2003
Trusts urged to meet doctors training directive
Health Secretary John Reid today urged all NHS trusts to tackle head-on the approaching deadline of the Working Time Directive for doctors in training. The Directive, which must be implemented by August 2004, places limits on the number of hours junior doctors can work and sets down minimum rest periods.
Trusts urged to meet doctors training directive
Health Secretary John Reid today urged all NHS trusts to tackle head-on the approaching deadline of the Working Time Directive for doctors in training. The Directive, which must be implemented by August 2004, places limits on the number of hours junior doctors can work and sets down minimum rest periods.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
