HR praised by NHS Employers despite controversy surrounding Modernising Medical Careers programme

Health service HR professionals have been praised by NHS Employers, despite their role in the government’s controversial Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) programme.

Earlier this week, the Department of Health (DoH) announced a review of the specialist training scheme for doctors in response to a storm of complaints from health professionals’ groups.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said it had received reports that unqualified medical staff had been shortlisting applicants for the MMC scheme and they were able to change the candidates’ scores.

But Sian Thomas, deputy director for NHS Employers, told Personnel Today: “We recognise the huge workload and effort that has been put in by consultants, HR departments and deaneries in shortlisting so many applications in the past few weeks.”

Dr Jo Hilborne, chairman of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee, welcomed the review: “The government has finally been forced to address the appalling problems with this system. From the point of view of the thousands of doctors who’ve been messed around, given incorrect information, or denied job opportunities that they deserved, it’s a shame the government didn’t listen then.”

The DoH is expected to publish its review recommendations by the end of March.