Junior doctor recruitment review published

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said today that urgent action taken by his department meant that every junior doctor post in Northern Ireland was filled by August.

The Minister revealed the steps taken to address problems following a new recruitment process. There had been widespread concerns that the new process would lead to significant unemployment of junior doctors, and that not enough doctors would be in post by August, leading to serious disruption in the health service.

The Review of Recruitment into Speciality Training, which was led by Professor Randal Hayes of Queen’s University, made a total of 29 recommendations which will now be taken forward by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Key findings of the review included that the 2007 recruitment process:

Ensured doctors with sufficient skills and experience were employed by August 2007;

There was no evidence of any negative impact to patient care; and

No significant unemployment of junior doctors.

In a statement to the Assembly, Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey said:

“In May, I commissioned a review into the problems encountered by the recruitment process for junior doctors into specialty training. There were well-publicised difficulties that centred on the use of the national MTAS (Medical Training Application Service) computerised recruitment among other related problems.

“In commissioning this review I wanted to be assured that patient and client care had not suffered because of the deficiencies of this process, and that our health service would continue to operate safely and effectively at the traditional junior doctor start date of 1 August.

“I wanted to ensure that a recruitment process could be put in place that would begin to restore confidence to the profession.

“In Northern Ireland, the 2007 recruitment process succeeded in ensuring that doctors with the required skills and experience were employed by August 2007 – in fact every post was filled and the Review received no evidence of any detrimental impact on patient or client care. In addition, there has been no significant unemployment of junior doctors thanks to the steps I took to address this issue.

“Nonetheless, significant flaws in the process have also been identified. These relate mainly to the on-line recruitment system, the application form and the shortlisting process used this year.”

The Minister indicated that the Review had made a number of recommendations that he had accepted and had asked his Department to take forward.

He continued: “In 2008 junior doctors will apply for specialty run-through training to the local deanery. They will not use the national on-line computer system that caused so many problems. I am confident that this will avoid a repeat of the significant anxiety caused by this year’s process.

“We all want to be cared for by doctors who are trained to the highest standards, and are experts in their specialty. The profession can do this if the right people are recruited into the right specialty. I am determined that the professionalism and dedication shown by our local medical workforce is not let down by a poor recruitment exercise.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Review of Recruitment into Specialty Training was commissioned by the Minister on 22 May 2007. It was led by Professor Randal Hayes, Emeritus Professor of Medicine at Queen’s University Belfast. It reported to the Minister on 26 September 2007.
2. Details of the Review Group membership and the recommendations can be found in the report. The full report can be accessed at www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/publications
3. Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0571, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440.