NHS :: New package of training and support for junior doctors

Following Judicial Review findings, Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt announced that job offers for junior doctors applying for specialist recruitment will start today. Speaking in the House of Commons she said:

“I am pleased to say that offers for the extended first round of specialist recruitment will start today. Interviews for the current round should be completed by the end of this month and all initial offers for hospital specialties will be made locally by the postgraduate deaneries, between now and the 7th June 2007.

“Successful candidates may receive more than one offer. They will, of course, be able to wait until all their offers are received, allowing them to consider their options before making a decision on which to accept.”

Setting out principles for going forward, Ms Hewitt said:

“We have agreed with the Review Group a set of principles upon which the continued recruitment of specialist medical trainees this year will be based. These principles are fully supported by the Deaneries and NHS Employers.”

Announcing additional training programmes to support this transition year Ms Hewitt said:

“In addition to the extra longer-term training programmes already announced, we have accepted the recommendation of the Review Group to create further additional training opportunities for those junior doctors who are appointable to specialist training, but for whom training opportunities may not otherwise be available in this year’s recruitment.

“We will be creating 200 additional training programmes for those doctors who have already invested several years in training for their chosen specialty. For example, it is proposed that 20 new posts will be added to the 100 already available in cardiology and 19 new posts will be added to the 30 already available in neurology.”

Ms Hewitt also announced that Junior Doctors will be supported during this further appointment process, with Strategic Health Authorities working to ensure all applicants currently in NHS employment will continue to have employment while they progress through the next round.


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