 |
TEALE FENNING
Medical Education
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Nick Raine-Fenning
Course Director
Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 1852
Location: Nottingham
|
 Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:33 pm Post subject: MMC and MTAS |
 |
|
BMA calls for delay to shambolic recruitment system
A new system for recruiting junior doctors has descended into pandemonium, the BMA says today (Tuesday 27 February, 2007).
An estimated 30,000 junior doctors have applied for around 22,000 new UK specialist training posts under the ‘Modernising Medical Careers’ scheme. Last year, the BMA warned that the government was rushing through the reforms in too short a timescale.
The BMA is concerned that the system is potentially open to corruption following reports that staff without the necessarily qualifications were invited to shortlist applicants, and that shortlisters were able to alter candidates’ scores.
The computerised system for applying to posts has been blighted by technical problems, leaving applicants unsure of their future careers. As a result of repeated delays and the website crashing, the deadline for applications had to be extended twice at the start of February. The large number of applications, tight timescale, and a lack of guidance left senior doctors struggling to complete the shortlisting process, which was scheduled to finish by the weekend but is still continuing in some areas.
As a result, many doctors who were expecting to be notified of an interview on Saturday are still waiting. The recruitment process is scheduled to begin tomorrow, leaving them with only hours to arrange an interview. Others have been offered interviews for posts in the wrong speciality, at levels for which they are not qualified, or which clash.
The BMA’s Junior Doctors Committee has written to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt urging her to delay the interview process until the government can prove that all shortlisting has been consistent and fair.
Dr Jo Hilborne, chairman of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee, says:
“The future careers of thousands of doctors are at stake. The government has tried to rush through these reforms in a completely unworkable timescale and now we are seeing the consequences. Doctors have lost what little confidence they ever had with the new system. They’re feeling confused and increasingly angry.
“If any doctor has been disadvantaged because of any of these problems, the BMA will fight for their right to fair treatment. It’s time for the government to take responsibility.”
Notes to editors
Junior doctors were previously employed in three grades before they could qualify as consultants or GPs - Pre-registration House Officer (one year), Senior House Officer (typically four to five years), and Specialist Registrar (five to six years). Under Modernising Medical Careers, they enter a two-year foundation programme before entering specialist training posts that take them straight up to consultant or GP level in a minimum of five years. Interviews for these specialist posts are scheduled to start tomorrow.
_________________
"Teale Fenning Medical Education" delivering evidence-based, exam-orientated learning since 1997
Last edited by Nick Raine-Fenning on Mon May 14, 2007 9:11 am; edited 4 times in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Nick Raine-Fenning
Course Director
Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 1852
Location: Nottingham
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Here is the letter from Dr Jo Hilborne, Chairman of the Junior Doctors Committee, British Medical Association, to Patricia Hewitt ...
| Dr Jo Hilborne wrote: | Dear Ms Hewitt,
Specialty Training applications
It is with regret that I contact you with regard to application process for Specialty Training. Following the BMA Junior Doctors Committee’s ‘Call for Delay’ in 2006 (I enclose a copy for your information), the JDC has constructively worked with the MMC Team and Deaneries to make as many improvements as possible to the application process itself. You will be aware that the JDC is not against the principles underpinning Modernising Medical Careers, but our overriding concern has been with the speed of the implementation itself and now we are in the unfortunate situation of our concerns being realised.
Technical problems
The system that deals with applications, Medical Training Application System (MTAS), was an initial concern for the JDC; with specific worries centring on the capacity of the system. JDC had been reassured by the Department of Health that the technology was sound. Despite these reassurances MTAS has experienced a large number of technical problems, plus:
Underestimation of demand for the service
Problems with post selection
Difficulties submitting applications
Data loss
Despite several discussions which hypothesised typical figures of well over 35,000 applications, the system failed to cope with demand and extra support was required. It also came to light that choosing certain combinations of was wrongly prohibited. The JDC raised this with the MMC Team and the London Deanery and a workaround was found – it would obviously have been advantageous if this was noted before applications went live. This resulted in the first extension of the application deadline from 12pm Sunday 4 February to 2pm Sunday 4 February 2007.
The JDC became inundated with technical queries as members tried and failed to access the site. This forced the JDC to lobby for a further extension, which was agreed for 9am 5 February 2007.
The system still caused problems for many doctors who remained unable to submit their application on time due to the technical faults. JDC supported several doctors through the appeals process, but information was not forthcoming or clear and even once their late applications were accepted, applicants were left to contact Deaneries to find out whether or not they were shortlisted. This was particularly problematic for those who needed to book a place on the GP recruitment exam with less than 24hours to spare.
Shortlisting
With the closure of applications, Deaneries began shortlisting. The BMA again received many comments and concerns from Consultants involved in the process. The concerns demonstrated the practical difficulties of the shortlisting process and are of a worrying nature:
The time scale was unrealistic
Shortlisting papers not received until halfway through the shortlisting period
Shortlisters were initially told to complete shortlisting on MTAS, but this failed requiring all applications to be printed out and marked by hand
Candidates who were on the list did not have their applications included in shortlisting pack i.e. missing applications
Word restrictions on references were inappropriate, or at the least, very limited
Details submitted by other shortlisters could be seen and altered
There was insufficient guidance available for shortlisters and referees
Outcomes
The deadline for applicants to receive their offers for interview was extended from 9am Saturday 24 February until 9am Monday 26 February 2007. The extension is a notable example of the struggle to meet an over ambitious timetable. Furthermore, this deadline has again been breached and today many junior doctors remain confused, angry and upset waiting for confirmation that they had been shortlisted for interviews that are due to take place within a few days. Many Deaneries have not yet finalised shortlisting, while others have issued interview invites to applicants in a specialty to which they have not applied. Applicants whose interview slots clash have been told that they must choose which interview to attend, an unacceptable situation when they will not have another chance to apply for a full year, and one which we were assured much earlier on would not be allowed to happen. Many doctors are expected to book interview slots before 5pm tomorrow, but may not know until tomorrow morning if they have even been successfully shortlisted. Meanwhile interviews are due to start on Wednesday.
This system has been inconsistent and problematic throughout the entire process. As this is now annual recruitment with the future of over 30,000 doctors at stake, the BMA requires strong assurance as to the probity and stability of the MTAS system. With rotations due to begin at the start of August it is vital that the system is seen to be fair and just, with the best doctors being appointed in the interest of patient care and the future of the consultant-led NHS. It must be ensured that all those shortlisted have sufficient time to arrange a suitable interview appointment and make necessary leave and travel arrangements to attend. Employers must not prevent any doctor from attending up to four possible interviews in this timescale.
The Department of Health must take responsibility for this situation by halting the interview process until it is proven that all shortlisting has been consistent and equitable for every applicant.
Junior doctors are understandably extremely anxious about the implementation process and need to be reassured that it is robust and does not disadvantage the career of any applicant. As this is a very pressing matter, an expedient response would be appreciated and we would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss further. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Jo Hilborne
Chairman
Junior Doctors Committee, British Medical Association |
Interesting reading.
I am sure many of you share Dr Hilborne's viewpoint.
_________________
"Teale Fenning Medical Education" delivering evidence-based, exam-orientated learning since 1997 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Nick Raine-Fenning
Course Director
Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 1852
Location: Nottingham
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 5:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
DH ANNOUCES REVIEW OF MODERNISING MEDICAL CAREERS APPLICATIONS
Following discussion with the medical Royal Colleges and the BMA, the
Department of Health today announced a review into Round One of Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) recruitment and selection into specialist training, made through the Medical Training and Application Service (MTAS).
The review will be led by Professor Neil Douglas, Vice President of the
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and President of the Royal College of
Physicians of Edinburgh.
The review will be completed by the end of March, so that any changes can be made in time for Round Two, which begins on 28 April 2007.
The terms of reference are to:
· understand what has worked and not worked to date
· identify and promote good practice
· recommend action to remedy any weaknesses, taking account of legal
and operational constraints
· identify specifically what further action or guidance is required:
§ immediately (or before completion of Round One)
§ before commencement of Round Two
§ before any subsequent rounds.
· develop improved arrangements for the support and care of applicants
Doctors have been applying for their preferred specialist-training
programme since 22nd January 2007. The first round of interviews began last week.
Recruitment into specialist training is, and has always been a very competitive process. Any doctors who were not granted an interview in the
first round of recruitment will have the opportunity to apply for the second round of recruitment. Interviewers have always been encouraged to appoint the most suitable candidates to posts in round one, with round two
enabling further post matching.
Dame Carol Black, the President of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said:
| Quote: | "The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges welcomes the Government's decision to carry out an immediate review of the Medical Training Application Service, the new system by which doctors are now selected and placed for specialist training.
"The Academy will work with the Department in the review, to ensure the
necessary action is taken to remedy faults and to restore confidence." |
_________________
"Teale Fenning Medical Education" delivering evidence-based, exam-orientated learning since 1997 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Nick Raine-Fenning
Course Director
Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 1852
Location: Nottingham
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Letter to Fellows and Members
12 March 2007
| Quote: | Dear Colleagues
Update on MTAS
Further to my letter of 2 March 2007, I am writing to keep you abreast of developments with the MTAS Selection system. Following representation by the RCOG to the Academy (see attachment), things have developed quite fast. The issues were discussed by the Academy and then with the Department of Health, as a result of which there have been a number of Press Releases in the last few days.
It is now generally agreed that the MTAS shortlisting system failed to identify many eligible candidates, and increasingly there are also concerns about the interviewing procedures. Interviews for Obstetrics and Gynaecology will be complete, we think within the next few days, but nonetheless I would like to hear from colleagues their views and experience. We are now pressing for the review of all candidates who were not shortlisted in the first round, and will discuss how this might be done with the Academy Review Group.
The College position is that we have to get these things right for the second round, and we will work hard with the Academy, MMC and MTAS to achieve this. It is our responsibility to continue to lead the recovery from this crisis, on behalf of the next generation of trainees. As a specialty we will advise participation in the next round of selection only when we are satisfied that the proper procedures are in place.
To the many trainees who wish to do Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and to enter the new training system, but who were not selected in the first round, our message is please do not despair. We know you are upset, angry and disappointed. We all understand that you have been badly let down. The problem has not been your relative skills and attributes, but the Selection system. As stated above we are now pressing for review of all submissions not shortlisted. Furthermore we are led to understand by MMC that at least 50% of available training posts will be kept for the next round.
Please discuss your application for the second round with your Educational Supervisors. Please do stick with your commitment to do Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Keep an eye on the RCOG website. I will also be sending frequent bulletins to all Fellows and Members asking them to keep their trainees in the picture as things progress.
This has been a dreadful experience for many, and I do hope that trainees can take some comfort from the fact that this is now very clearly understood and that this specialty is doing all it can to recover the situation as much as is possible.
Yours sincerely
Professor Allan Templeton
President |
_________________
"Teale Fenning Medical Education" delivering evidence-based, exam-orientated learning since 1997 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Nick Raine-Fenning
Course Director
Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 1852
Location: Nottingham
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 11:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
And here is another letter which will be circulated to all applicants. This time from Professor Neil Douglas (Chair), Vice Chair of the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges and President Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh...
| Quote: | REVIEW OF THE MEDICAL TRAINING APPLICATIONS SERVICE AND SELECTION PROCESS
The Department of Health has asked us to lead a review into the first round of the Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) recruitment and selection into specialist training made through the Medical Training and Application Service (MTAS). A key aim of the review is to ensure that this will result in the best candidates being appointed.
The terms of reference are to:
• Understand what has worked and not worked to date
• Identify and promote good practice
• Recommend action to remedy any weaknesses, taking account of legal and operational constraints
• Identify specifically what further action or guidance is required:
o Immediately (or before completion the first round)
o Before commencement of the second round
o Before any subsequent rounds
• Develop improved arrangements for the support and care of applicants
The review group has met twice. We have identified shortcomings in the process. We have decided that the first round should continue but we have recommended immediate steps to strengthen the interview process. These have been communicated to Deans and will be communicated to all applicants and selectors as soon as possible via the MTAS and MMC web-sites. An understanding of existing PMETB principles (para 5) clarifies guidelines for interviews at ST2 and ST3. www.pmetb.org.uk
The review has identified concerns that some excellent doctors may have been overlooked. The group has recommended all applicants who have not been invited to an interview should be given the opportunity to have their application form reviewed by a trained advisor. This may result in the offer of a first round interview.
Significant changes will be made to improve selection in the second round. This will include changes to the application form and the scoring system. The Department has accepted the need for change and the revised approach will now be
• tested with junior doctors, selectors, deanery recruitment teams and employers, and
• agreed with the Medical Royal Colleges, Deans, trainee and consultant representatives and employers before they are introduced.
It is our intention that there is real opportunity for applicants going into the second round.
The review group has also recommended that further advice and information should be made available as quickly as possible for applicants. The Department has accepted that this will include:
1. information about competition ratios by specialty, entry level and geography
2. the process and timetable for making applications in the second round plus generic guidance about what panels will be looking for
3. generic feedback on how applicants can improve their applications for the second round
4. information about sources of support for applicants
5. enhanced Frequently Asked Questions on the MTAS website, building on feedback from the first round
The necessary time to deliver this process is being assessed and tested and will be announced as soon as possible.
The next stage of the review will be to consider what further arrangements might be needed for the support and care of applicants. The final report of the review will be available by the end of March. |
_________________
"Teale Fenning Medical Education" delivering evidence-based, exam-orientated learning since 1997 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Nick Raine-Fenning
Course Director
Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 1852
Location: Nottingham
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 11:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
REVIEW OF THE MEDICAL TRAINING APPLICATIONS SERVICE AND SELECTION PROCESS
And here is the related Government's response which will be released to the press today ...
| Quote: | The review into the Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) recruitment and selection process for specialist training has found that there were shortcomings. The Review, which included representatives of the medical Royal Colleges and the BMA, has recommended immediate steps to strengthen the interview process, which include allowing applicants to provide CVs and portfolios to support their applications.
As a result, some junior doctors who have expressed fears that they have been overlooked in the first round, will be given the opportunity to have their application form reviewed by a trained advisor from a Deanery. Successful candidates will then be given an interview.
Health Minister Lord Hunt said:
"I welcome this review and thank everyone on the team who worked so hard to find a way forward. I know that this has been a difficult time for junior doctors and I hope that this reassures them that we have listened to their concerns, and that our goal is the same as theirs: to find the right people for the right jobs for the benefit of the NHS, its patients and its staff."
The Review Group decided that the first round, which began this week, should continue but recommended immediate steps to strengthen the interview process, which have already been communicated to the Deans and will be communicated to all applicants and selectors as soon as possible via the MTAS and MMC web-sites. These include allowing applicants to provide CVs and portfolios to support their applications.
In addition to this, significant changes will be made to improve selection in the second round. This will include changes to the application form and the scoring system. The Department has accepted the need for change and the revised approach will now be tested with junior doctors, selectors, deanery recruitment teams and employers, and agreed with the Medical Royal Colleges, Deans, trainee and consultant representatives and employers before they are introduced.
The Review Group has also recommended that further advice and information should be made available as quickly as possible for applicants. The Department has accepted that this will include:
1. information about competition ratios by specialty, entry level and geography
2. the process and timetable for making applications in the second round plus generic guidance on what panels will be looking for
3. generic feedback on how applicants can improve their applications for the second round
4. information about sources of support for applicants
5. enhanced Frequently Asked Questions on the MTAS website, building on feedback from the first round
Jonathan Fielden, Chair of the Consultants and Specialists Committee of the BMA said: "As part of the Review Group we have started the process of regaining the confidence of the profession where necessary in producing a robust recruitment process. There is much hard work to be done but there is a willingness from all parties to achieve this for trainees, consultants and patients."
Professor Dame Carol Black, Chairman of the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges, said: "The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges welcomes the speed with which the government review of the Medical Training Application Services (MTAS) has proceeded. The decision to provide a supportive review for all those not short-listed, whilst proceeding with the first round interview, is welcomed."
The necessary time to deliver this process is being assessed and tested and will be announced as soon as possible.
The next stage of the review will be to consider what further arrangements might be needed for the support and care of applicants. The final report of the review will be available by the end of March.
The Review was set up to understand what has worked and not worked to date, to identify and promote good practice, to recommend action to remedy any weaknesses, taking account of legal and operational constraints, to identify specifically what further action or guidance is required and to develop improved arrangements for the support and care of applicants. |
_________________
"Teale Fenning Medical Education" delivering evidence-based, exam-orientated learning since 1997 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Nick Raine-Fenning
Course Director
Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 1852
Location: Nottingham
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 1:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Here is the latest from the College ...
| Professor Allan Templeton, President wrote: | A letter from Sussex Place
I wanted to use this opportunity to give you an update on MTAS. As I think everyone is by now aware, the problems that resulted in MTAS becoming a disaster first emerged about five weeks ago now. The inadequacies of the system and the subsequent uncertainties have caused most doctors, and particularly trainees and those trying to enter Specialty Training, very considerable anxiety, distress and confusion. We should have foreseen the problems, and indeed if we had been party to the detail of the shortlisting and scoring system, then I think much of the difficulty could have been minimised.
I want to emphasise the support of this College for all trainees and particularly those attempting to enter our specialty at this difficult time. I also want to acknowledge the hard work and effort put in by many consultant colleagues around the country to get us to this point. Abandoning the system, although very tempting, was never a very realistic option, and our efforts over the last several weeks have been geared to make the best of where we are, in the interests of the specialty and in the interests of our trainees.
We all agreed that the right way forward is an extended round of interviews and I have written to the Department of Health on the 12 April, and again today, indicating how this would best be achieved for our specialty. In effect we are proposing a system which mirrors the National Selection System that was evolved in our specialty, in collaboration with Deans over the last two years, prior to MTAS. This would include the offer of a minimum of two interviews for all trainees, whether shortlisted or not and the opportunity to cascade the scores from oversubscribed deaneries to undersubscribed deaneries to which candidates had expressed a preference, but in which an interview had not taken place. This was a tried and tested method, and I have indicated to the Department of Health that this is the way we should proceed in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
The letter written to the Department of Health today was in fact from the Presidents of three Royal Colleges namely Psychiatry, Paediatrics and Child Health, as well as Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. We believe we share similar issues and problems, and are agreed, along with our Lead Postgraduate Deans, that this is the approach that would best meet the needs of our specialties, the trainees, and the service. It gives all trainees the opportunity to demonstrate their ability and aptitude, on at least two occasions, while increasing the options for appointment.
Arrangements are already in place in many deaneries to undertake these further interviews and once again I want to acknowledge, with some pride, the enormous support shown to our specialty by many colleagues who have been involved in selection and interviewing, and who have contributed willingly and positively, often in their own time, to help us get to a point where we feel we have developed a fair and satisfactory alternative to the original MTAS system.
There can be no doubt that MTAS has been a disaster and at this stage it is difficult to see if any good will come of it all, but I can say that I am proud of the way our specialty has reacted, coped and adapted to current circumstances. I want to thank all of our consultant body. I particularly want to thank the trainees in the system. I want to wish all those attempting to enter the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynaecology my very best wishes. |
I would certainly agree with the suggestion that the whole process has caused significant "anxiety, distress and confusion".
Good luck to all of you caught up in this ridiculous series of events.
_________________
"Teale Fenning Medical Education" delivering evidence-based, exam-orientated learning since 1997 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Nick Raine-Fenning
Course Director
Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 1852
Location: Nottingham
|
| Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 1:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Another update from Professor Allan Templeton
| Quote: | Dear colleagues
Further to my previous update, I wanted to report on progress with MTAS from the specialty point of view.
Our focus in advising the Department continues to be the needs of the specialty, our trainees and potential trainees, and the clinical service. We remain very concerned that the MTAS process continues to demonstrate flaws and problems. We are particularly concerned that the Department, having taken legal advice, has not been able to follow our strong steer that we, as a specialty, return to a National Selection System, which mirrors the procedures we used prior to MTAS.
We are also very concerned about the arrangements being put in place to select candidates in the extended Round 1 in undersubscribed specialties such as our own, and we are in addition apprehensive of the implications for staffing the service on the 1st of August.
However, I do want to try and reassure all trainees and our Fellows and Members who are caught up in this fiasco, that this College is doing everything it can to protect the needs of the specialty and in particular those who wish to take up a career in obstetrics and gynaecology. We are pressing for clarification on the arrangements being proposed for the extended Round 1, and further clarification on the contingency to meet service need, when August arrives. It remains a matter of great regret that the Department has not advised the SHAs and Postgraduate Deans to proceed in the way we had proposed. It is our contention that further delay, confusion and uncertainty would have been minimised.
The importance of Round 2 in the selection procedure becomes increasingly important with respect to timing and method. Clearly, it will have to look very different from Round I, and, if we have achieved anything in our discussions with the Department, it is the assurance that on this occasion specialty advice will be implemented. We have therefore begun a major review, on a specialty-specific basis, of the changes that would have to occur in application and selection procedures to meet the needs of obstetrics and gynaecology.
This has been an extremely difficult time for the medical profession and particularly our specialty. It is unforgivable that this system was foisted on doctors without adequate consultation causing confusion, distress and disenchantment to our trainees and those committed to a career in our specialty.
I do however sense a change in mood, and it is evident that those now charged with responsibility for MTAS are much more prepared to listen and seek professional and specialty advice. This College will ensure that the interests of our specialty are protected and that the trainees and the specialty entrants are supported and encouraged. This will be a central message to forthcoming meetings of our College Advisers and Career Champions.
I also want to thank and acknowledge the many Fellows and Members who have been caught up in this process, personally and on behalf of the specialty, for their continued commitment to the selection and interviewing process in the interests of our trainees, at a time when uncertainty was rife and morale was fragile. This dedication is to be applauded. The spring of 2007 will forever be scarred by the fiasco of MTAS, but it is our intention to ensure that the specialty comes out of this in a way, which meets the future challenges of women’s health in this country. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Nick Raine-Fenning
Course Director
Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 1852
Location: Nottingham
|
| Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 9:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
MTAS Update – 11 May 2007
| Quote: | Dear Colleagues
Those of you caught up in the fallout from the MTAS debacle will be aware of the debilitating technical problems which have besieged the electronic platform. Arrangements for the (extended) Round One interviews continue, although Deaneries are subjected to increasingly complex methods for data management, as a result of the continuing failure of the MTAS systems.
The importance of getting it right for Round Two cannot be overestimated and this view is now shared by all trainees, consultants and by the specialty. Here there is some better news, and good news in anything to do with MTAS is a novelty. A task group of College Officers and Specialty Advisers, including the Lead Dean for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Professor David Sowden, has been meeting on a weekly basis for almost the last two months. This week the group discussed the detail of how the College will influence subsequent selection processes, and in particular Round Two. Confirmation from the Department of Health has been sought regarding the proposed changes to the specialty application form and scoring system. Our purpose is to make the form more relevant and appropriate for selection into our specialty. The group will be working hard on this in the coming days and a revised form will be circulated to the Chairs of the Deanery Specialist Training Committees, who are meeting here at the College early in June. By the end of the first week of June it is our intention to have a revised application form fit for purpose, which will have been agreed following wide consultation within the specialty. We will then work with the Department of Health to ensure that the new form is adopted for Round Two and that our previously devised system of cascading scores is used to ensure Deaneries fill their vacancies, as indicated in my earlier letters to you all.
The timing for Round Two has yet to be confirmed, but the legal advice the Department has been given is that for Round Two to be considered an adjunct of Round One (i.e. the same pool of candidates) it needs to take place within three months. It is obvious to us at this stage that whenever Round Two is completed, it cannot be before the 1st August and we will thus not have an opportunity to fill all vacancies by that time. This is a real concern to us in this specialty and we are going to have to be both pragmatic and inventive to address this problem.
We believe that the only realistic way forward is to fill the gaps with Locum Appointments for Training for the SpR grades, these posts being outwith the current jurisdiction of MTAS. We believe the Department did not factor in the LAT appointments in the original calculations for MTAS and to this end we propose using this to our advantage as a short-term solution. Again, the logistics of the LAT appointments and the possibility of a harmonised (cascaded) appointment system for the LATs will be addressed, and discussed at the forthcoming meeting with the Chairs of the DSTCs. On our behalf, Professor Sowden is also pursuing this issue in direct discussion with his counterpart in the Department.
I hope this update will bring some reassurance that Round Two will be a substantial improvement on imperfect Round One procedures. Once again I would like to take this opportunity to reassure trainees and consultant colleagues that we continue to act in the best interests of our potential trainees and the specialty. I would like to thank the small group within the College who have been working hard over the last few months to help recover the situation for the specialty. In particular I want to take this opportunity to thank Dr Maggie Blott and Mr Kim Hinshaw (Chair and Vice Chair of the Specialty Education Advisory Committee) and also Dr Melissa Whitten (Chair of our Trainees Committee) for reviewing the application forms. As ever the Chairs of the DSTCs have battled on stoically, despite the tremendous problems that MTAS has presented, and I very much hope to have the opportunity of thanking them all personally on behalf of the specialty in the next few weeks.
Yours sincerely
Professor Allan Templeton
President RCOG |
_________________
"Teale Fenning Medical Education" delivering evidence-based, exam-orientated learning since 1997 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Nick Raine-Fenning
Course Director
Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 1852
Location: Nottingham
|
| Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 7:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The latest from the College ...
| Quote: | Medical Training Application Services (MTAS)
The Department of Health took the responsibility of central recruitment for specialty training via the central electronic platform. The previous system of Deanery-based short-listing and appointment by interviews worked well but the Government chose to listen to their policy advisers and 'spin doctors' instead of the specialties. As a result, the trainees and selectors have faced enormous problems and it has been a frustrating and disappointing experience from the start.
There were several issues related to short-listing: it was too much work for consultants within a short period; it was frustrating to mark the forms in a horizontal manner without having a view of the complete application longitudinally for each candidate; worst of all, the items which were included in the form were statements which the candidate could import from other websites. The scoring system gave scores for subjective statements rather than looking into objective issues related to candidates' experience or his or her past performance. Naturally, some of the good candidates were not short-listed for interviews.
The Royal Colleges, through the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, jointly objected to this non-objective method of short-listing. The Department of Health responded promptly and quickly assembled a review team consisting of members of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the Department of Health. The Colleges had believed that matters would be resolved, but so far, progress has been slow. Recently, trainees were further let down by the exposure of their personal details on the MTAS website.
The College has been actively campaigning for change in the background. We have had weekly meetings with a group of experienced Specialist Training Committee Chairs and College Regional Advisors, the Lead Dean for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer and the Dean in-charge of the current MTAS system. The meetings were held every Wednesday for several hours to discuss, debate and identify the way forward. We made constructive suggestions that would help us to get the best trainees into our specialty. The demand for our specialty is low, as is the case for Paediatrics and Psychiatry.
The Presidents of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Psychiatrists joined us at our regular meetings held at our college chaired by our President. At the last two meetings, we were joined by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Martin Marshall and Professor Sarah Thomas – Dean of Postgraduate Studies tasked with MTAS. Initially, we suggested two interviews for the candidates in their first and second choice deaneries, if they have not been called for interviews by these deaneries. We also requested that the scores should be used for selection and those not selected but deemed eligible to be appointed to be included in a process of harmonisation or cascading, so that every single appointable trainee will be found a training position; according to the choices indicated.
Although the Department of Health was initially enthusiastic about our proposal, they undertook a legal review. The legal review suggested that cascading or harmonisation was not legally defensible as applicants were not told about this at the onset. We still think it is the best way, but the Department of Health feels that there might be legal challenges if we go along that route. To conduct two interviews in all the deaneries, where the demand is high, might be physically difficult, as they have to mobilise far more consultants over several days in order to accomplish this. It was the thinking of the Department of Health that if there were suitable candidates who have applied to a deanery as their first choice and they were deemed appointable, then there was no need to interview the second choice candidates.
Should there be inadequate numbers of candidates to fill the post based on their first choice, then a second round of interviews will be conducted. This has been left to each deanery for them to decide based on the numbers who have applied to them as their first choice. This is the current position of the Department of Health and we sincerely hope that this enables us to select a good number of candidates with adequate experience and who are suitable for training. We have recommended that if there were not enough suitable candidates to fill these positions, then the rest of the positions might be filled with temporary locum FTST positions for six to twelve months. In the second round, fresh applications will be called and we should be able to select the best candidates.
The Department of Health has agreed to negotiate with us in terms of the applications for short-listing in 2008. We have set up a small group to look into this matter, so that the application forms can be modified that select the candidates whom we think would be ideal to be trained in our specialty. We will continue to meet weekly and our President will send an email every week regarding the latest developments related to MTAS.
|
_________________
"Teale Fenning Medical Education" delivering evidence-based, exam-orientated learning since 1997 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rpwalavalkar
Teale Fenning Administrator
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
Posts: 966
|
| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
june 8th MTAS update from college... president's letter....
| Quote: | Dear Colleagues
I am pleased to report that as a result of the initiative described in last week's letter, and following a number of meetings this week, we now have agreement and the support of the Department of Health to proceed with the completion of Round 1 in the way we suggested. Thus we will proceed on a specialty specific basis and use the national (cascaded) selection system to appoint both ST posts (if applicable) and LATs without further interview. For Round 2, the interviews will take place in the autumn for posts to start in February 2008. Again the nationally co-ordinated, Deanery based system, previously tried and tested in our specialty, will be used. Application forms are being developed by the specialty and we will be proceeding to national advertisement soon.
This way forward once again received support at today's meeting of the Chairs of the Deanery Specialist Training Committees, when we also discussed anticipated fill rates at all ST levels. Even using the national system, we still anticipate service gaps which we will continue to address with Deaneries and Trusts. I have also emphasised this anxiety to the Department of Health. The RCOG Crisis Management Group will continue to meet on a weekly basis and to monitor the situation.
Meantime I cannot over-emphasise my continuing concerns for trainee doctors caught up in this process, in the light of continuing uncertainties as job offers proceed. I know consultant colleagues are offering what support they can, and I want to register my grateful thanks for all you are doing on behalf of the specialty.
I will continue to keep you all in the picture as best I can with these updates, but I draw your attention to this month's RCOG E-letter update which will also address issues arising from MTAS.
Once again I want to thank the specialty for support and forbearance.
Yours sincerely
Professor Allan Templeton
President |
_________________
Dr Miss. Raj Walavalkar MBBS MRCOG
TealeFenning Administrator
SR O&G Wessex Region |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
