Fall in demand for training places

The number of UK medical students ready to fill vacant junior doctor training places has fallen by more than 300 — leaving a potential black hole in NHS staffing. The UK Foundation Programme, a two-year medical training programme bridging the gap between medical school and specialist training, usually plans to need around 200 extra students on the reserve list owing to initial applicants dropping out withdrawing or failing exams. At this time last year the reserve list to fill those slots was made up of 352 medical students — leaving the places oversubscribed — but that number is now just 45. It means there could be around 150 vacancies for junior doctors beginning training this year — and Health Education England is now advertising for more senior doctors in a bid to fill the potential gaps in hospital and GP staffing. The news comes just a week after junior doctors across England took industrial action — for the fifth time — as a result of the Government’s insistence on imposing a new contract.   Reprieve The Government has now agreed to pause imposition for a week, raising the possibility of talks resuming. And doctors leaders say the falling morale of the profession, which has been further impacted by the imposition, is one of the reasons behind the striking statistics. BMA medical students committee co-chair Harrison Carter (pictured) said: ‘There are many reasons that mean medical students do not apply for the foun...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news