BMA highlights poor working conditions for doctors in training

The British Medical Association (BMA) has criticised the current UK system of training for junior doctors as being akin to an "endurance test".

A cohort study tracing the career progression of 430 medical graduates has revealed that around half of trainee doctors believe there are staff shortages at work, while one-quarter do not think they have enough time to deliver an acceptable quality of care.

More than one-quarter of those polled feel their stress levels have increased in the last year, while around 60 percent state that the recent changes to the NHS have had a negative effect on morale.

The BMA described the current situation as "unacceptable" and called for reforms of the system in order to ensure patients do not ultimately lose out.

Dr Ben Molyneux, chair of the BMA's junior doctor committee, said: "We will push for junior doctors to have more control of their working patterns so that they can better plan their lives and the care of their patients."

This comes after a report from the General Medical Council earlier this year suggested that the excessive hours being worked by many doctors in training is harming patient care quality.