NHS BOSSES DEFEND DOCTORS’ VSO ROLE

21-04-2007

Embarrassed NHS managers have criticised the leaks revealing their plans to encourage jobless doctors to work abroad for nothing - and say that many enjoy giving their skills free anyway.

As we revealed on this website yesterday, the Department of Health has been in discussions with VSO in the hope of finding something useful to do for the estimated 10,000 medics who’ll either be out of work or who’ll have had their careers blighted as a result of a new junior doctors recruitment scheme (see the story here).

The news came about as a result of a leak from MTAS, the Medical Training Apllication Service, which is overseeing the new system.

We print below, infull, astatement from Sian Thomas, the NHS Employers deputy director, but we thinkyou’ll particularly enjoy the bit where she says that doctors who have been trained at vast expense but who can’t get a job have the option of“spending a period of time outside the NHS” - that’s a good use of public money then!

Doctors coping with the fact that their careers have just come to a premature end will also be re-assured by her comment that they have “a lot to gain from a period of working in other countries” - just not a lot to gain financially, as they'll be VSO volunteers.

Anyway, here’s the statement in full:

“It is disappointing that discussions being held within the review group are bring leaked as there are many and wide ranging issues being considered.

“Everyone recognises this has been an anxious time for those doctors who have applied for training places on a speciality programme. A key objective has been to maximise opportunities for those who are not successful in securing a training place, ensuring that valuable skills are retained and that staff have all the support they need.

“The 10,000 figure is based on the difference between applicants and training places. There are many applicants from outside the NHS or working in trust posts who saw this transition year with more training programmes available as a one off opportunity to get into NHS specialty training, which is seen worldwide as lucrative and high quality.

“Speciality training posts are always very competitive and there are always more applicants than places available.

“The NHS needs just as many doctors at the end of this process and, where trust doctors are successful in obtaining training places that will create vacancies that unsuccessful applicants can then apply for from June.

“There are many options open to applicants who do not secure a training place, including trust grade posts in the NHS, locum work, or spending a period of time working outside the NHS.

“Similar discussions have also been held nationally with regard to other groups, particularly nurses and physios which resulted in the publication last week of a joint programme of work between TUs, DH and NHS Employers.

“Volunteering has always been popular among NHS staff, with the relevant experience, who have a lot to give and a lot to gain from a period of working in other countries.”