Nine out of 10 doctors want a public inquiry into the disastrous online Medical Training Application Service (MTAS), according to a survey by Personnel Today’s sister title Hospital Doctor.
An exclusive online poll of 550 hospital doctors carried out this week found 92.2% backed the action. This figure rose to 95% among senior house officers (SHOs), and 96% among specialist registrars.
One SHO responding to the survey said: “I believe the idea of a public inquiry is appropriate. The whole system appears flawed, from the people who envisaged it, those the system was discussed with, and those enlisted to create MTAS. The impact on patient care and safety is key, and has already been damaged.”
The MTAS website was suspended last week after two separate lapses.
It had been claimed doctors were able to read each other’s messages, and that applicants’ personal information could be freely accessed.
Junior doctors have already called for health secretary Patricia Hewitt to resign over “shambolic” medical training reform.
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