The BMA today expresses strong opposition to the idea of a new grade of NHS doctor, who would have a specialist qualification, but not the same expertise as a consultant.
The warning is part of the BMA’s response to Sir John Tooke’s interim report on the UK-wide Modernising Medical Careers reforms. The BMA describes the report as “excellent” but argues that a new grade below the level of consultant is not necessary, would not improve the quality of care, nor save the NHS money.
Dr Jonathan Fielden, chairman of the BMA’s Consultants Committee, says:
“Patients deserve the best possible consultant-based care. This is the gold standard which we will fight to defend and deliver. The creation of an inferior “subconsultant” grade would limit patient care and dash the hopes of young doctors striving to achieve the best. We should continue to enhance consultant practice for the benefit of patients without destroying ambition and hope for the future.”
Mr Ram Moorthy, chairman of the BMA’s Junior Doctors Committee, says:
“It makes no sense to spend public money to train doctors, and then deny them the opportunity to reach their full potential. This grade would dumb down quality and further frustrate junior doctors’ aspirations to excellence.”
Other key points in the BMA’s response to the Tooke inquiry include:
- The BMA supports the concept of a three-year core training programme followed by higher specialist training, but says this will not necessarily be the best model for every speciality
- There should be multiple recruitment rounds, so doctors have more than one opportunity a year to get into training
- The BMA does not support the idea of the two year foundation programme at the start of training being broken up. However, it says there are problems with the second foundation year that need to be addressed
- GP training should be extended to five years, as long as the focus is on the GP curriculum, and the training is relevant to doctors’ future careers in general practice
- There should be early exposure to opportunities for medical academic careers
- The BMA supports the idea of a single body to regulate undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, as long as it has appropriate medical representation, and does not penalise doctors financially
- The non-training staff and associate specialist (SAS) grades should be made more attractive to doctors, for example through better training and continuing professional development delivered through a new contract and reward structure.
View the full BMA response to the Tooke inquiry