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Updated - New Questions
People have mentioned a strike, is this a possibility? Is this what you want?
What about people who have already had interviews? What can be done to make things fair for them?
If we pull Northern Ireland out of MMC, won't this just attract more applicants for the job here?
What if I applied for GP training?
I am an international medical graduate, where do I stand?
What about the good things in MMC?
Question archive
Who are you?
Are you just for medics, or can surgeons join in too?
Are you anything to do with the BMA, or Remedy UK?
What are you hoping to achieve?
Isn’t it too late to do anything about MMC?
Isn’t the latest review announcement (one interview for everyone) fair?
Can parents and partners of doctors get involved?
People have mentioned a strike, is this a possibility? Is this what you want?
The issue of industrial action was raised at the meeting on the 29th March. We are not a union, and the only organisation that can call for a strike would be the BMA. We do however recognise the huge strength of feeling in the profession that has led to this being raised as an option. We have investigated further and it would not be legal to carry out any form of industrial action - the law states you can only strike over current terms and conditions - as MMC does not affect these this is not an option. However, Remedy UK are taking legal action over MMC and are preparing a form of collective action everyone can be involved in. Please keep checking this website for further details.
What about people who have already had interviews? What can be done to make things fair for them?
This is a very difficult issue that has been forced upon us by the continuing shambolic implementation of MMC and the review panel. The refusal to stop the process at an earlier stage has meant people have spent a great deal of time, effort and money attending interviews. However, it must be remembered this is a process in crisis, and an interview does not equal a job. No appointments can be made until all interviews have been completed - the BMA are looking to have every applicant applying to Northern Ireland interviewed for every job - this will only serve to increase competition. It is also likely that there will be legal challenges to any appointments made - the only way to find secure employment appears to be to abandon the process for this year and return to the old system, at least temporarily. This is a sad and very difficult situation caused solely by the Department of Health ignoring the warnings of the profession.
If we pull Northern Ireland out of MMC, won't this just attract more applicants for the job here?
Scotland and Wales have announced they are to interview all applicants for all jobs. The BMA are pushing for this as a solution in Northern Ireland. This only serves to increase competition in these areas. The only way to have this process stopped is through political pressure - we have cross party support against MMC and the threat of complete withdrawal will hopefully put pressure on Westminster to postpone MMC implementation nationally.What if I applied for GP training?
If you have just applied for 4 GP posts you will not be affected by the review - the GP selection process has worked well and is continuing. However, if you have applied for a mix of GP and other specialties the situation remains unclear - further guidelines should be released w/c 2nd April, and we'll update the website as soon as we hear anything.
I am an international medical graduate, where do I stand?
We have had a number of questions about IMGs and visa status. Originally the DoH stated that only those with a HSMP visa running past 1st August 2007 would be considered for ST posts. BAPIO gained an injunction against this ruling and the current situation is that if you had HSMP status as of 5th February you would be eligible to enter the selection process on the same basis as a UK/EU applicant. However, we are not immigration lawyers so please seek proper legal advice on this issue.
What about the good things in MMC
We recognise that MMC plans to reform and improve specialist training. Introducing new training and assessment methods is vital as Junior Doctors' hours are reduced through the EWTD. However, we do not feel that the training restructure as imposed will lead to improved training - MMC should be very carefully, and independently, reviewed and those parts felt be the profession to be beneficial should be retained.
www.northernirishmedics.org.uk was set up by a Staff Grade, a Specialist Registrar, and the partner of a doctor who also happens to be a manager in the NHS. Although none of us are directly involved in the MMC process, we all felt so strongly about the injustice to junior doctors, and the damage to patient care that MMC is causing, that we decided to do something about it.
Are you just for medics, or can surgeons join in too ?
Of course, we welcome all specialties, all grades, and anyone who cares about the future of healthcare in Northern Ireland! We just thought it was a catchy name.
Are you anything to do with the BMA, or Remedy UK?
We are not directly affiliated with any organisation – although we are working with the BMA and we are the Northern Irish contact point for Remedy UK and mums4medics. We are all campaigning to have the MMC process stopped - we hope you will support these organisations in this aim.
What are you hoping to achieve?
We want Modernising Medical Careers to be stopped in its entirety, at least in Northern Ireland. Although we are not against reform of the training grades, MMC has been badly thought through, is untested, and is going to mean losing some of the most talented doctors in Northern Ireland. We want to give a voice to the hundreds of disaffected doctors across the province whose lives and careers are being damaged by this inhumane, ill thought-out process.
Isn’t it too late to do anything about MMC?
As far back as last year people were saying MMC and MTAS were a done deal, that nothing could be done to stop them. The launch of the review into MTAS, following intense lobbying by Remedy UK, has shown that it is not too late too make a difference. The recent march in London, which brought 12,000 doctors to the streets, again showed this was a cause worth fighting for.
The details of the latest review are still being thought through by the panel, the deaneries, and the royal colleges, and now is exactly the time to make our views heard.
Also, Northern Ireland is on the verge of an independent executive, and through political pressure now is also the time to demand a workable solution for Northern Ireland – for our doctors and our patients!
Isn’t the latest review announcement (one interview for everyone) fair?
The review announcement on 23rd March is the latest in a long line of farcical proposals. If the government really think that one shot at a career, judged on a 30 minute interview, is a fair way of treating people who have put so much time, energy, and money into their careers, they must be mad! As proposed the system will see approximately 400 doctors in Northern Ireland without a job in August, on the basis of one interview. This must be stopped.
Can parents and partners of doctors get involved?
Of course! Chris Edmond, one of the founders of www.northernirishmedics.org.uk, is the partner of a doctor. We feel that our doctors need all the support possible in this incredibly difficult and stressful time, and we must all do our bit to have MMC stopped. Please contact Chris at chris@northernirishmedics.org.uk for more information. Chris is also the Northern Irish contact for Mums4Medics, a lobby group set up by the mum of a surgical SHO in London to help all relatives, parents and friends of doctors to campaign against MMC – please visit www.mums4medics.org and sign up.
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