Home > Job News > Graduates > "Desperate scramble" for doctor posts < Job News and Info

Some 13,000 junior doctors could still be left without jobs after the first round of NHS recruitment in England.

The Department of Health (DH) has announced that 85 per cent of such posts have been filled, which means 16,000 candidates will fighting for just 2,300 posts in the second round of applications.

An extra 1,000 posts will then be made available at the end of this year's recruitment process to those still without positions.

However, concern has been expressed that around 13,000 junior doctors will remain without essential training posts.

Jo Hilborne, chairman of the British Medical Association Junior Doctors Committee, emphasised: "The bottom line is that 16,000 talented doctors are caught up in a desperate scramble for a handful of training opportunities.

"It remains alarmingly unclear what will happen at the end of the month when junior doctors' contracts ends."

Ms Hilborne continued: "The last Health Secretary gave a commitment that they would be able to continue their NHS employment - we expect the new one to explain how he will make this a reality."

The controversy about the limited opportunities for UK medical students may yet worsen.

The DH confirmed last week that nearly one third of doctors starting training posts on August 1st are from overseas.