BMA warns against cuts to training

The British Medical Association (BMA) has raised concerns that cuts and restrictions to the training of junior doctors may threaten the future of the NHS.

Speaking at the BMA’s annual conference, Dr Shree Datta, chair of the junior doctors committee, has highlighted concerns that government cuts will limit the amount of training available to physicians, compromising the quality of care.

Research shows that four in ten junior doctors are working on understaffed rotas and are forced to do more antisocial hours where opportunities for training are severely limited. This means many are missing out on time to learn and practice procedures properly.

Dr Datta said: “Without proper training junior doctors will not be able to gather the skills, experience and knowledge needed to be the GPs and consultants of tomorrow.”

The committee is calling for the next heath secretary to shadow a junior doctor working an out-of-hours shift in order to see what is really happening in the NHS and the impact this is having on training.

The BMA’s warning follows a survey of 370 GPs conducted by Pulse last month, in which more than half said local health services in their area had already experienced funding cuts.