MMC2 - CURSE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

23-06-2007

"Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the hospital"...AsDr David Nicholl reports, the sequel to thejunior doctor recruitment fiasco is that it's now the medicswho've beenleftneeding treatment.

Traditionally, this is the time when the summer blockbusters are due, and this year we have Spiderman 3, Shrek 3 and Pirates of the Caribbean.

But also vying for your attention - at a hospital near you! - is an epic ongoing drama which has been made at your expense for a little more than the cost of the entire production all three films combined.

This little epic sequel is known as ‘MMC- Round 2’, although I think ‘MMC 2- The Curse of the DoH’ might be a better description.

You have heard for months about the numerous problems that have plagued this new system for recruiting junior doctors, but just like in all the best horror films, this is the monster that just won’t die. Sadly, I wish this was all fiction, and I have to end this cinematic metaphor, as the reality of the statistics that follow are pretty grim.

This week the BMA announced that 18000 applicants still will not know where or if they will have a job in 6 weeks time, and 12,000 UK applicants will not have a training post at all when even when round 2 ends.

Currently, I am preparing for the round 2 of MMC and will be expecting hundreds of applications for just 7 jobs (an increase of 25% after a lot of campaigning) spread across the West Midlands for the neurologists of the future. I feel I will need the wisdom of King Solomon as I have to decide who are the very best candidates.

What has been the effect of all this uncertainty on the applicants?

A report in this weeks BMJ makes very disturbing reading. A group of psychiatrists assessed the effect of MMC on the mental health of almost 700 junior doctors via an anonymous on-line survey.

21% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: “I have been having more thoughts of ending my life than usual.”

32% of responding juniors admitted that they made more mistakes at work; 43% agreed that they cared less about patient care; and 86% disclosed reduced work enjoyment.

Approximately 50% of respondents described symptoms consistent with depression (sleep disturbance, loss of appetite, mood swings, tearfulness). Significant numbers of juniors surveyed admitted to increased alcohol (35%) and recreational drug (2.27%) consumption in the last 6 months.

These doctors are sick and shouldn’t be seeing patients; worryingly only 7.5% of the applicants sought professional help for their difficulties.