‘Majority’ of junior doctor posts filled in England

The Department of Health (DoH) has this week announced that following the end of the first round of recruitment on June 22nd 2007, the majority of junior doctor training posts in England have been filled for the year.

Statistics from the department reveal that 85 per cent of these posts have now been filled, while the second round of recruitment is now underway and is due to run until October 31st 2007.

In the first round of recruitment, 13,168 training posts were accepted by junior doctors, with 2,320 posts now remaining for those making applications in the second round of recruitment.

Furthermore, the DoH has announced that following the conclusion of the recruitment procedure this year, a further 1,000 training posts will be made available to junior doctors who have not succeeded in gaining a post in the two recruitment rounds.

This move is part of a package of support for these individuals, which also includes career advice and grants.

Ann Keen, health minister, said: “The high fill-rate is good news for patients, the NHS and deaneries across the country and has been achieved despite this year’s problems with implementing the national recruitment programme. “

She added that the DoH is cooperating closely with the NHS on both the second round of recruitment and support package for junior doctors yet to obtain a training post.

Last month, the British Medical Association warned that junior doctors who have not found a training post in the first round of recruitment are being forced to use the same “discredited” and “disastrous” Medical Training Application Service in the second round.