Another example of this Government’s gross mismanagement has been exposed by a number of this morning’s newspapers.  The Mail on Sunday has led with the news that record numbers of British junior doctors face unemployment, with three applications expected for each training position (without which they will not be able to become hospital doctors or GPs). 

 This follows on from the crisis last year that saw“the UK Government press ahead with an untested and poorly thought out application process. This badly implemented system has let our junior doctors down and cost the NHS dear. As well as the financial implications, the UK has lost a great many talented doctors and, for those trapped in the system, morale is at rock bottom.” (Dr Peter Terry, Chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA) in Scotland)  A desperate attempt to remedy the situation by “penalising the thousands of overseas doctors and medical students who want to work in the NHS.” (Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of Council at the BMA) has now failed after a Court of Appeal ruled in November that international doctors training in the UK have to be treated the same as British candidates applying for a post. The Government has further exacerbated the problem by increasing the number of UK medical student places BUT cutting the number of training posts (from an estimated 15,600 to 9,000).  “Unless the Government recognises the need for additional posts, we will see a new lost tribe of doctors who fail to complete training, even though many are well qualified.” (Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley)  

“Trust in the Westminster government has been lost and doctors feel they have been let down by those who should be inspiring and leading them.” (Dr Peter Terry)