Career problems

When I first started anaesthetics, I was pleased with the idea that I could be an SHO (senior house officer) for a couple of years, then be eligible for the idolised position of the SpR (Specialist registrar), a position that comes with reverance and respect from HOs and SHOs alike. A comfortably secure five year training programme as an SpR, rotating round various hospitals in the region gaining experience would be ideal in my current situation - a new father needs some job security and to know what is coming for the next few years. However, this goal is now looking unobtainable.

This government has brought in so many reforms, and altered the workforce so dramatically, by increasing graduate numbers, by shunning non-EU doctors, and changing the training infrastructure that things no longer are even close to certain. The introduction of MMC (modernising medical careers) and RTT (run through-training) has been rushedThe introduction of MMC (modernising medical careers) and RTT (run through-training) has been rushed. It was designed to push junior doctors through their training faster to increase the number of consultants to the government's target level ASAP. Unfortunately, this desire to acheive targets has meant that junior doctors are unclear on the process they are about to embark on. Myself, I have been told I will be eligible for an ST3 post (the specialist training will be from years ST1 to ST7 or ST5 depending on who you listen to) but how I am to apply for this is uncertain.

My college tutor seems just as in the dark about what I am to do, and cannot help. The bit that really gets me, is that in order to make space for ST3 anaesthetists, the last permanent appointments to the hallowed SpR rotations will be December 2006. I would have been eligible for my SpR job from March 2007, so close!!! No-one at my institution, nor anyone I have spoken to knows what will happen at the end of the first ST3 year, and especially what will happen to all those who successfully complete their 'ST' years. Will they all get consultant jobs? Will they be channelled into cub-consultant grades? What about those who struggle to get passed the competitive entry to 'ST'? The younger ones can have up to two years trying to get into this training scheme, but after that what happens to them? Do they have to retrain as something else? GP? Medicine? Surgery? Will they have to emigrate to the USA/Australia? I feel that there needs to be full transparency in this process, and that the juniors need more information to be comfortable with all these changes to their training.

I'd really like for there to be an information leaflet to be waiting for me on my doorstep from the Royal College when I get home.