Why should i care about MMC???

**Renal** · 17-06-2007, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by anvilhead

I am hoping by the time I apply for ST training (just qualified) it will all have sorted itself out. The government has got to respond to what the profession want.

No they don't, there's no pressure on them to.

All they need to do is keep putting out that doctors are overpaid, overprivilaged and overdemanding just like they're doing now. Do you really think that the public would support us?

**yeliab_cram** · 17-06-2007, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by Renal

Do you really think that the public would support us?

I am constantly shocked by the views of the public expressed on the BBC website and in the papers. They think its all our fault!!

**Renal** · 17-06-2007, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by yeliab_cram

I am constantly shocked by the views of the public expressed on the BBC website and in the papers. They think its all our fault!!

I'm not. They believe exactly what they've been spun.

**anvilhead** · 17-06-2007, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by yeliab_cram

Hey anvilhead,

i'm not trying to put anyone off, i just think we owe it to ourselves to be aware of the current situation. Sure MTAS/MMC didn't do too badly for the 5th year medics, but it didnt half **** over a load of SHOs - and a not insignificant number of my older mates. I am constalty amazed by how many people (medics, applicants and all) are completely clueless about it.

I agree with u, things are going to have to change (or the NHS will stop working). I'm just trying to encourage people to take an interest in what is going on. After all it is going to be us who have to live through whatever changes come next to try and fix the MMC mess! And lets be honest, hearing patsy talk does make you want to hit her.

As it happens, well predicted, i'm thinking about the vascular job. Not decided yet though. Know anyone doing it this yr?

Not to be rude, but who are u?

Hi Marc,

I am one of the fifth years and have just finished. I am doing an academic histopathology job for the foundation programme which is why I know about the academic posts at Leeds.

You don't know me. I only know about you because of your blog (which is very entertaining incidentally) which is why I thought the vascular surgery job might appeal. I don't know anyone doing it this year (think they might have all come from outside our foundation school) but I was speaking to someone the year above me and he seemed to have enjoyed the rotations in the first year. To be honest it sounds ideal if you are interested in vascular surgery and should give you a head start for ST. It's not that competitive either, or it wasn't when I applied. Certainly for my job all the people who applied got an offer.

Not quite sure if I agree with your Patricia Hewitt bashing incidentally. I understand MMC has been in the pipeline for maybe 10 years and certainly for at least 5. She can't accept the blame entirely although I admit the techinical problems and admission process in general don't exactly reflect well on her. To be honest I think the BMA let us all down when MMC was at the planning stage and they didn't raise the obvious problems then. Let's not pretend though that the last system was perfect. I know people who spent ten years being an SHO because they couldn't get a training number. At least under MMC that can't happen well.

Hope you're enjoying yourself at the Mount and Millside. It's funny but you are doing the rotations the same way I did them and have ended up at the same place I went to for psychiatry. I trust both the Dr B's are keeping well.

Hope your revision is going well. I think in many ways the fourth year exams are harder than finals. It is certainly a more arduous year in general.

David

**yeliab_cram** · 17-06-2007, 06:55 PM

I'm very seriously considering the vascular academic job. Am slightly concerned its going to be too lab-based though. I would prefer it if there was designated theatre and teaching time like some of the surgical academic F2 posts in London... anyway, thats by-the-by.

I actually agree with you, the old system wasn't perfect, and the BMA have once again, missed the point entirely. And whilst i do acknowledge that its not actually Patsy's fault, i do think she should stand up and take the fall. Shes the secretary of state for health, surely the buck must stop with her! If i was her, i would go, before being sacked by gordie.

I dont think we have much to worry about in the short term with MMC. Its the long term implications of it that make me think we might be a bit ****ed one day. However, i was just looking on the MMC inqury website (link in another thread) and actually most of the points on there are things that have been raised on here. So lets hope they at least start to put things right...

The Dr Bs are well. Although i only really see biggins. Apparently they are reorganising Leeds mental health soon. 2 consultants at the mount do all the inpatients, the other 8 cons are just going to work in the community, ie DVs and clinic...

**Renal** · 17-06-2007, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by anvilhead

I know people who spent ten years being an SHO because they couldn't get a training number. At least under MMC that can't happen well.

Not including the how many thousands who won't get an ST this year? Don't get your point.

**Chulalongkorn** · 17-06-2007, 08:20 PM

I think the point anvilhead is alluding to is that in the past some SHOs drifted from one SHO post to another to another in the hope they would get a training post in their preferred speciality when, in fact, they were never going to get one as they were not suited to that speciality. Unfortunately no one ever told them that. Consequently they ended up being SHOs for years rather than seriously considering a change in direction career-wise.

**Renal** · 17-06-2007, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by Chulalongkorn

I think the point anvilhead is alluding to is that in the past some SHOs drifted from one SHO post to another to another in the hope they would get a training post in their preferred speciality when, in fact, they were never going to get one as they were not suited to that speciality. Unfortunately no one ever told them that. Consequently they ended up being SHOs for years rather than seriously considering a change in direction career-wise.

And MMC is better?

I wouldn't say that MTAS would work particularly well at determining what career individuls are suited for.

**Chulalongkorn** · 17-06-2007, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by Renal

And MMC is better?

I wouldn't say that MTAS would work particularly well at determining what career individuls are suited for.

I never said that!

I agree that MMC will not necessarily help in determining what career one is best suited to, in fact it arguably is less likely to as there will be less opportunities to "sample" different specialities before embarking on run-through training. However, it will end the situation of doctors who drifted from SHO post to SHO post, yesr in year out, and never really progressed up the career ladder.