HEALTH SECRETARY MISLED PARLIAMENT OVER JUNIOR DOCTORS FIASCO - LAMB

9.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 19th May 2007

Norman Lamb has uncovered evidence suggesting that Patricia Hewitt misled the House of Commons by omission about the real reason for the suspension of the junior doctor training scheme. The MP for North Norfolk, who is also the Liberal Democrats Health spokesperson, raised a point of order in the House of Commons on Thursday (17th May) to inform the Speaker of his concerns.

A Government statement to the High Court as part of the judicial review into the Medical Training Application Scheme (MTAS) says the system was suspended because internal reviews showed that it was technically flawed and that any attempts to fix it would fatally undermine the quality and security of the system. Yet days earlier Patricia Hewitt told the House of Commons that the system had been suspended to allay doctors' concerns following security breaches.

Commenting on the evidence, Norman Lamb said:

"Despite what Patricia Hewitt told Parliament this week, the reality is that the Government had no option but to abandon the system. This crucial and highly embarrassing information was kept from Parliament."

"Such a misleading omission compounds all the previous failures and will anger even more doctors who've been affected by this long-running fiasco."

"How can already disillusioned junior doctors have any faith that they will find suitable posts by August 1st given the smoke and mirrors way in which the whole application process has been handled?"

FURTHER INFORMATION

1. Patricia Hewitt, in a House of Commons debate on MTAS 16th May, made no mention of any technical flaws in MTAS:

"Given the continuing concerns of junior doctors about MTAS, the system will not be used for matching candidates to training posts, but will continue to be used by the deaneries."

http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070516/debtext/70516-0003.htm#07051671000004

2. The Second Witness Statement of Nicholas Greenfield, civil servant in the Department of Health, (for the Judicial Review launched by Remedy UK) dated 16th May 2007 said:

"The decision not to proceed with MTAS for matching candidates to training posts was taken as a result of the recent security difficulties and the fact that the Defendant could not be certain in the time available that the algorithm necessary to operate the 'single offer system' would be effective.

On 28th April 2007, a report was prepared by Beverley Bryant CIO, which considered how best to take the MTAS system forward. Ms Bryant observed that to allow offers to be made and accepted or rejected under MTAS, further changes to system functionality are required. She concluded that to make further changes to the system could further compromise the quality and security of the system, which given the problems experienced to date could be fatal to the programme."