Nine in ten doctors believe current medical training reforms, in combination with working time reductions, will result in lower standards, a BMA survey shows.

The BMA surveyed its members on the Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) reforms, which aim to streamline doctors¹ postgraduate training and, in some cases, shorten the amount of time it takes to qualify as a specialist. The results are based on 2,255 responses from doctors across the UK.

Nine out of ten (89%) disagreed with the statement: "Doctors will be trained to the required standard for an NHS consultant despite the reduction in training hours under MMC."  Almost as many (81%) said it would be unacceptable if the reforms resulted in the creation of a sub-consultant¹ grade of doctor. Seven in ten junior doctors said the creation of a sub-consultant grade would be detrimental to patients.
Three quarters (76%) did not think assessments at the start of postgraduate training ­ the two foundation years¹ ­ provided an accurate measure of doctors¹ abilities.

The results show that there is little confidence in the government¹s handling of medical training following the calamitous implementation of MTAS ­ the computerised training application system that was a main plank of MMC.

Nine out of ten doctors (87%) said that traditional CVs should be used when doctors apply for specialist training.  A significant majority (63%) were opposed to using a national online recruitment system again - even if the problems with the MTAS system could be resolved.

Seven in ten junior doctors said they had not received good careers advice and almost half (46%) said they had considered leaving the country.

A large majority said that service posts ­ those that do not provide doctors with formal training ­ would need to become more attractive to be considered as a career choice.

Commenting on the findings, BMA Chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum, says:  "Doctors are furious that the government has messed up their careers so badly.  The MTAS fiasco has created anger and despair and eroded confidence in reforms that had the potential to streamline training and improve patient care.
"The message to the new Health Secretary is clear ­ he needs to listen to doctors before making any more changes that might have the potential to create further problems for their careers.
"We¹re not against the principle of doctors qualifying as specialists more quickly as long as they¹ve been able to develop the right skills.  There is a potential problem now that training has to be squeezed into a shorter timescale. We must not allow this to result in any dumbing down of UK medical training."