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Press release: NHS Employers' statement on appointment of junior doctors for 1 August27 Jul 2007 NHS organisations have coped well in difficult circumstances, following the changes to recruitment to medical training this year, according to NHS Employers, which represents trusts on workforce issues. Despite unprecedented numbers of applicants for medical specialty training places and the large cohort of doctors taking up new posts from August 1, NHS organisations are confident that they will be able to provide a full and safe level of service throughout the coming weeks. 'Information gathered from employers indicates that trusts have been able to appoint very good doctors to specialty training posts this year and that the relatively small number of vacancies remaining can be covered through use of locums and other temporary staff cover,' said Sian Thomas, deputy director of NHS Employers. 'Employment checks are being completed and induction programmes finalised for this new group of doctors. Trusts know the next few weeks will be challenging, just as the last few months have been, but they are well prepared to ensure that both trainees and patients are looked after. The quality of applicants has been very high this year and trusts have recruited the best doctors to the available posts.' UK medical graduates competed well with 69 per cent of those who applied accepting a post for August 1. About 1000 posts out of 15,600 in England are yet to be filled and further training posts will be released later in the year. For those junior doctors working in the NHS who have not secured a post, career counselling and guidance is available, including a new medical careers website to be launched in the next few weeks. Trusts report being able to redeploy many of those who have not secured a post until the recruitment process comes to an end this October. NHS Employers will also submit its evidence to the independent inquiry into MMC led by Sir John Tooke on July 31. The evidence has been compiled following extensive discussions with NHS organisations about what has worked well and what needs to change in the future. 'There is a lot to learn from this year's experiences of junior doctor recruitment. Whatever changes take place in the future, we must focus on the need to get the best doctors in the right jobs for the good of both patients and the profession,' said Sian Thomas. Notes for editors
Contact detailsThe press office provides a comprehensive service to keep journalists informed about the work of NHS Employers. If you have a media enquiry, please contact the press office team:
For out of hours media enquiries, please contact the duty press officer on 07880 500726. Last reviewed 27 Jul 2007 |
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