Junior doctors stage anti-reform protests
Doctors have to compete for NHS specialist posts
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Saturday, 17, Mar 2007 09:11
Junior doctors protested in London and Glasgow today over changes to the process through which they apply to specialist roles in the NHS.
Thousands of young trainees demonstrated against the Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) specialist programme, which they argue has complicated the recruitment process to the detriment of clinical care.
The government said last night it would open up 5,000 more applicants for MMC places after organisations like the British Medical Association criticised the new online system.
Roughly 30,000 doctors have applied for the 22,000 specialist roles available.
Conservative leader David Cameron attended the London protest, calling the situation an "utter shambles".
"No more pointless reorganisation when you're asked to apply for your own job. No more top down targets that put political priorities ahead of clinical priorities," he told the crowds.
Meanwhile in Nottingham shadow chancellor George Osborne continued the Conservative's assault against standards in the NHS.
He focussed his criticisms on the "financial mismanagement" of chancellor Gordon Brown, who is widely expected to win the forthcoming Labour leadership contest and take on Mr Cameron at the next general election.
The government has pointed to its long-term record of investment in public services and said it is doing all it can to improve the current system to meet the NHS' requirements.