Response to the proposed junior doctor contract in England

24 Sep 2015

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow is committed to ensuring the highest standards of patient care are met.

Delivery of a world-class medical workforce is largely dependent on the recruitment and retention of junior doctors. We must ensure that we can continue to make improvements to working practices that ensure both the wellbeing of trainee doctors and the highest standards of care for patients. We must also ensure that the correct number of doctors are available to meet the demands of the service and not become reliant on locum services.The Shape of Training review seeks to introduce greater flexibility in medical training and we fully support this.

In order to deliver innovative models of care, expand the delivery of services across seven days, increase NHS efficiency and continue to lead the world in innovation and research, we must support and value the people who are going to deliver this. Medical and surgical trainees provide vital and valued care to patients and we must do all we can to ensure successful recruitment and retention – we must focus on attracting doctors and not driving them away.

There is much concern about proposed changes to junior doctors’ contracts in England and we urge all those engaged in negotiations to work together to yield a positive outcome.

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