Junior doctor disruption has not materialised in Northern Ireland

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said that concerns about large scale unemployment of local junior doctors had not materialised in Northern Ireland.

All 686 junior doctor posts in Northern Ireland have been filled and the vast majority of applicants have obtained a training post. Of all those who have applied for training posts, just over 20 eligible doctors in Northern Ireland have not been offered a post. Each of these doctors will receive continued support in order to find employment.

Commenting on the situation, Michael McGimpsey commented, "Ensuring the provision of safe, effective treatment and care for patients by a range of healthcare professionals, including junior doctors, has been one of my top priorities throughout this process. I am pleased to say that the concerns voiced about the potential for large scale unemployment of our local junior doctors and severe disruption to the delivery of patient care has not materialised in Northern Ireland.

The Minister continued "I have no doubt that this success has had much to do with the local identification of the flaws in the medical training application service (MTAS) and the subsequent decision to abandon the process and to find a more locally acceptable way.

"I commend the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency, Trust Chief Executives, local consultants and the local BMA in ensuring we have delivered an effective recruitment process with no disruption and offer my congratulations to the successful applicants."

As of 1 August, 410 Specialty Training posts and 276 Fixed Term Specialty Training posts have been filled. Just over 20 eligible doctors working in Northern Ireland have not been offered a post.

Michael McGimpsey commented: "There has always been an annual round of recruitment, and therefore competition for posts. There have always been doctors who have been successful in securing training posts and some who have not. I want to assure those unplaced doctors that arrangements have been put in place for continued support as employment is sought."

This support will be available to junior doctors from 1 August to 31 October 2007, or until they secure substantive employment if sooner. The specific role that individual doctors will undertake will depend on their competence and experience, and on service needs. Careers advice will also continue to be available throughout this period. These measures will allow doctors to remain in employment while offering further opportunities to apply for posts.

It is thought that the number of unplaced doctors will reduce over the coming months as further appointments are made.

Looking to the future, the Minister said, "I am determined to restore the confidence of the local medical profession in the recruitment process. The Review of Recruitment to Specialty Medical Training that I commissioned in May 2007, will continue with its work in addressing the problems experienced by the local junior doctor workforce, and will make their recommendations to me on a local way forward in September 2007.

Commenting on the publication of today's figures, Dr Rajesh Rajendran, Chairman of the BMA's NI Junior Doctors Committee said: "Earlier this year NIJDC worked hard with the Chief Medical Officer and the Post Graduate Dean to find a solution to what was potentially a disaster for Northern Ireland in terms of junior doctors' training and provision of hospital services. It resulted in all eligible applicants who applied to Northern Ireland being offered an interview for each application they made. We are pleased to see that this work has paid off and that disruption to hospital services has been avoided.

"NIJDC will continue to sit on the DHSSPS review group which has been set up to review the junior doctor training and recruitment process used this year. We must ensure that the very serious situation which arose this year will never happen again."

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