BMA: Financial pressures impacting medical training

The British Medical Association's (BMA's) new junior doctors leader has warned of a potential erosion of the standard of medical training in the UK.

Dr Ben Molyneux, who was elected as the new chair of the BMA's junior doctors committee last week, has raised concern over the potential impact of financial pressures caused by the current economic climate and the Health and Social Care Act reforms.

He noted that some trainees in the south of England have been forced to complete two placements in psychiatry because the trust is short-staffed, rather than receiving a rounded training programme.

Furthermore, a recent BMA survey of junior doctors showed that half of those polled are more likely to leave the NHS to work overseas after training compared to two years ago.

Dr Molyneux said: "I hope there will be opportunities for the BMA to work closely with the government to address the concerns of junior doctors."

The BMA has also recently called on the government to scrap the pay freezes affecting many members of NHS staff, saying it is damaging morale and failing to have a positive impact on care quality.