Organised by two fourth-year students at Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ School of Medicine, London, the petition says that academic achievements should count for more than they do in the computer-based scheme set up by Modernising Medical Careers (MMC).

“When before one’s exam performance at medical school comprised 85 per cent of a student’s ranking, it is now just one factor out of 12,” it reads. “Where before a student was impartially assessed, he is now assessed by his own views of himself and by his ability to enrich his own achievements. Where before senior doctors would select their new junior doctors, they are now assigned by computer.”

Alex Liakos and Martin Hill set up the petition online (http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/Thedoctorlottery/) after The Times revealed widespread anger last week at the operation of the new system. It was defended in a letter to the paper by Lord Warner, the Health Minister, on Thursday.

“The petition has only been going since Monday afternoon, and now has almost 560 signatures of doctors and students from all over the UK,” Mr Hill said.

The aim is to send the completed petition to MMC in time to affect how job applications are run in October.

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