Public Servant Lifestyle

The success of a new on-line application system for medical graduates has been hailed by Scotland's Health Minister Andy Kerr.

He said: "I am delighted that graduates from Scottish medical schools have been so successful in securing foundation places in Scotland. I am also pleased that applications have been received for all 800 foundation training places in Scotland. This reflects the fact that Scotland continues to be seen as a great place to study, train and work.

Web-Based

"This is the first time that a national web-based application system has been used for medical recruitment and I am delighted with this initial outcome. The success of the system for recruiting into the Foundation Programme gives us added confidence in its use as the platform for recruitment into specialty and general practice training, which is a much larger task."

The Foundation Programme, launched in August 2005, forms the two-year training programme junior doctors are required to undertake following graduation from medical school before going on to further specialist or general practice training. The programme forms the bridge between medical school and specialist-general practice training. In implementing a national curriculum, each trainee has an explicit set of competences that they must achieve in these two years of training.

Students were required to rank 26 foundation schools across the UK in order of preference before submitting their online application form through the Medical Training Application Service (MTAS - see links below). Detailed numbers on the level of Scottish graduates securing places in Scottish hospitals will follow shortly.

Foundation Programme

Implementation of MTAS for the Foundation Programme has involved extensive planning and consultation between the four UK countries and key stakeholders to ensure a fair and equitable process for all applicants.

The next step will be for Foundation Programme applicants to be matched to a post and location within Scotland, based on the applicant's score and preferences. In Scotland there are 55 programmes; and candidates will be asked to rank six of these in order of preference.

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