Junior doctors could quit their jobs if new proposals by Jeremy Hunt go ahead

Junior doctors are having second thoughts about their future career despite attempts by Jeremy Hunt to patch things up.

The Health Secretary delivered a very positive speech on Tuesday during the Conservative Party conference although it has been met with a lot of criticism.

Hunt, whilst wearing his NHS badge, told the BMA and junior doctors: “Let’s not argue about statistics or whether we can do more to raise the standards of the patients,” before also telling them to call off the strikes for good.

As part of his plan to reform the NHS, Hunt promised to train up to 1,500 more home-grown doctors every year from September 2018. This will mean medical school places will go up by a quarter.

There are currently 6,000 medical school places available a year. Universities turn away more than half of their applicants but with the proposal to increase spaces it is hoped more domestic students will be successful with their application.

However, a deal is set to be put in place between junior doctors and the NHS with plans to ask doctors to work with the NHS for four years after their training.

A junior doctor, who wishes to remain anonymous for the safety of her job, said: “I welcome his plans to train more doctors, but that doesn’t solve our current problem of low morale and low staffing levels in the NHS currently. This won’t do anything for another 10 years, and with the current way in which working as a doctor is portrayed, I don’t think he will even fill these extra spaces.

“I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was 12, and while I am enjoying it currently, if the proposed contract does go ahead I can’t see myself wanting to continue working as a doctor with a new working timetable, less support and not being free to work where I want, when I want.

“It’s just not the career I applied to when I was 18.”

Although not explicitly stated in his speech, Hunt has revealed that fresh graduates can receive a fine if they leave the country to work before the four year time period.

According to the BMA, this fine is, in effect, former students paying back their university loan.

The training of a doctor costs more than £200,000 and this is what is expected to be paid back in part.

Dr Mark Porter, BMA council chair, said: “While it is welcome that Hunt has finally admitted the government has failed to train enough doctors to meet rising demand, this announcement falls far short of what is needed.

“We desperately need more doctors, particularly with the government plans for further seven-day services, but it will take a decade for extra places at medical schools to produce more doctors.”

Jeremy Hunt’s speech has kick started a new wave of reforms for the NHS, in particular for junior doctors, but it could be some time before any noticeable improvement is seen.