Author: BMA, Posted on Monday, May 10 @ 05:58:55 IST by RxPG  

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Junior doctors have voted to reject the new fast-track training scheme -The foundation course - and offered their backing to students who want to boycott it.


The rejection of the Modernising Medical Careers foundation programme came at the annual conference of the BMA's junior doctors committee on Saturday.

The vote follows similar advice from the BMA's medical students committee.

At the heart of the row is the second year of the proposed foundation programme.

Critics claim students are being asked to sign up to the programme without knowing any significant details about this year.

Simon Eccles, chair of the junior doctors' committee, said: "Medical students are being expected to apply for their first jobs without knowing what they'll be learning, whether or not their experience will count towards their future training, what they will be paid, or where they will be based.

"The NHS has always trained consultants to a level where they can deal with the full range of emergencies in their speciality. Someone who hasn't been trained to the point where they can work without supervision is not a consultant."

Speaking to the BBC for the department of health, Professor Stephen Field said: "We need to carry on working with people from all over the UK so that we can make these changes a success for junior doctors and our patients."