Extra foundation programme places welcomed

  An extra 15 training places have been created for newly qualified doctors in Northern Ireland. The BMA has welcomed the move, which it hopes will help address workload and retention issues in the nation. Health minister Simon Hamilton today announced the additional places for 2016-17, boosting the total number of foundation programme places to 267 — a rise of six per cent on last year’s figure of 252. It follows an announcement last week of an extra 20 GP training posts, bringing the annual number to 85, increasing numbers by a third. It followed sustained BMA lobbying. Commenting on the increase in foundation places, BMA Northern Ireland council chair John D Woods said: ‘We are pleased to hear today’s announcement from [Mr] Hamilton of an additional 15 training places for those who have just graduated from medical school.’   Long-term planning BMA Northern Ireland medical students committee chair Molly Kerr added: 'Long-term planning for the medical workforce is essential; we need to make sure there are enough doctors in Northern Ireland to meet the growing workload, and who are able to treat patients with increasingly complex needs.’ Ms Kerr added that the BMA looked forward to working with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency to further develop plans for an ‘appropriate’ medical workforce. Making the announcement, Mr Hamilton s...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news