Call to improve quality of doctor training

The BMA has called on the Scottish government to focus on improving the experience of doctors in training rather than tying new graduations into working in the NHS in Scotland.

The union was responding to an announcement that if students on a new graduate-only medical degree commit to working in the NHS in Scotland they can access bursaries, meaning financial support of up to £16,000 over the four-year course.

The graduate-entry course will begin in Scotland next year in an attempt to plug recruitment gaps, particularly in remote and rural areas and in general practice, and to help widen access to a medical career.

A bursary of £4,000 per year will be offered to students who agree to work in the NHS in Scotland for a fixed-time period; a year for each £4,000, health secretary Shona Robison said.

The Scottish government will also pay fees of eligible students.

The graduate-entry medical course (ScotGEM) will be hosted by the universities of Dundee and St Andrews, with input from the University of the Highlands and Islands, and will have 40 places per year.

Mita Dhullipala, BMA Scottish medical students committee chair, said: “We have long been advocating for the need to widen access to medical schools and to ensure that Scotland is an attractive place for doctors to train and work.

“We were pleased to see that applications will open for the new graduate-level medicine course this autumn, and that the Scottish Government will pay the tuition fees for eligible students.

“However, we are concerned about the steps taken by the Scottish government to introduce optional bursaries to students who agree to work in Scotland's NHS for a certain period of time.

“In our view, the Scottish government should be concentrating on improving the experience of doctors in training, rather than tying new graduates in.”

Shona Robison said: “Along with the free tuition for eligible students, this represents an attractive package for potential applicants.

“ScotGEM is an entirely new concept for Scotland, with a particular focus on rural medicine and general practice. These are two priority recruitment areas for Scotland’s NHS, and they are also extremely rewarding career paths.”