MTAS DEBACLE HAS CAUSED ENORMOUS DAMAGE - LAMB

4.22.26pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th May 2007

Commenting on the Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt's statement today in the Commons on the junior doctor's training scheme, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb MP said: "The outcome of the judicial review was a hollow victory for the Government."

"As the judge made clear, the introduction of MTAS was a disaster; it was premature, untested and flawed from the outset."

"The human and financial cost of this debacle has been huge. We urgently need an independent review by the National Audit Office into this mess and Patricia Hewitt must meet with junior doctors to counter the disillusionment that has swept through the medical profession."

Pressure group Remedy UK had challenged the legitimacy of a new computerised application system for training posts. Though they lost their High Court battle, the judge said medics were justified in feeling angry.

Norman Lamb has today written to the National Audit Office calling for a review into the cost of recruitment via the Medical Training and Application System so far and the cost effectiveness of the Government's future plans for the junior doctor recruitment system.