It is yet another example of what happens when the government meddles in something it doesn't understand. Their constant interference will destroy the good will of doctors and destroy the NHS and then all we will have for our health care needs are Boots, Tesco and Virgin!

John FW Priestman, Huddersfield,

I detect the dead hand of HR and consultants in the designing of this selection system. Could some member of these dismal professions now attempt to justify this process?

kangxi, Hangzhou,

It would appear that this government are intent on disempowering and undermining the medical profession. The MTAS government inspired system of appointing doctors to all specialities is insane. To think the consultant surgeons and physicians of the future should be appointed on the basis of 5 creative writing questions which is essentially what the Medical Training Application Service form boils down to. It is wrong that the forms are split up into parts when reviewed a good doctor needs many qualities expressed through academia, relations with colleagues, rapport with patients, initiative amongst others. The form also doesn't take into account progress since graduation. Despite much concern having been expressed by many the government is resisting dumping this ridiculous system yet they don't seem to understand doctors the world will always need doctors it is the British public who will suffer as a result of not identifying and appointing the highest quality of doctors we have.

Jill Rutherford, Salford, UK

I am a victim of this shambles.
After graduating in 2001 I embarked upon a career in surgery. I recognised that surgical training is competitive and longer than that of general practice and the medical specialities, however I wanted to do it and am good at it.
All of the hard work that I have done, and the money that has gone into training me could now be wasted because of this new system.
I have not been offered any interview for the next stage of my training (the 6 years before I become a consultant), despite the level of work and responsibilites that I would be doing during that time being the same as I do now.
This new computer system has effectively told me that I am incapable of doing the work I currently do. This is in contrast to my excellent academic achievements, the assessment of my peers, seniors and the trust that my patients show in me and my skills.
I plan to take my skills, paid for by the British public, and continue my training abroad.
This must stop now.

J Bourne, Birmingham,

The reason it has traditionally taken 14 years to train consultants is because that it takes that long to become a safe, independent, and competent medical practionner. Modernising Medical Careers is simply a rebranding exercise which allows the government to create a body of inexperienced and inexpensive doctors. These will be labelled 'new consultants' thus allowing the government to claim that it has achieved another of its many targets. In reality, it will have created a group of manipulatable automatons, who have little motivation to excel and are unprepared for the demands of a complex and difficult job. Those who really suffer, as always, will be the patients.

Katie, London, UK

12,000 doctors marched through central london today in protest at proposed reforms to our training. This is not just about job losses but about creating worse qualified doctors to serve in the NHS. Modernising Medical Careers is the worst thing to happen to the NHS in years, the public need to know, it's as much their NHS as ours.
Uk doctors currently and deservedly have one of the best repuations in the world. To keep it that way, MMC needs to be scrapped.

Dr A Wilkinson, London,

I still don't understand what was wrong with the old system before PMETB interfered. It worked.

M Knights, Cardiff, UK

Don't forget that the greater undelying problem is that as of next year, the oppertunities of experienced doctors (SHOs) securing a training post will be diminished greatly and phased out eventually at 2009. Only those who are in the system would be allowed to apply for these posts (i.e. Foundation Year 2 doctors) - as experienced SHOs are deemed overqualified to apply.

Christopher Hoo, Belfast,

Join us for the march in London this Saturday. See www.mums4medics.org and www.remedyuk.org for more information about the march and about the whole shambles.

Rosemary, Wolverhampton, England

I welcome the Government’s last minute acceptance of the case for a review.However,The proposal to review all non shortlisted applicants is still flawed, since it continues to rely on a flawed and discredited process that needs a complete overhaul. Further, it does not address the fact that many shortlisted applicants will have been shortlisted out of the vagaries of the system and not out of merit, and may therefore have been offered posts fortuitously-the proposals are not seeking to reverse The review must now be rapid. It must be independent and not constrained by the Department of Health. It must consider whether additional training places should be provided and it should explore whether enhanced evidence of the experience, achievements and references of applicants can be considered. I do understand that waiting for round 2 interviews may not be good enough and the review should therefore examine whether the qualifications and experience of those not short listed for interview should be reconsidered. As a consequence, and as many consultants clearly believe, the first round interview process may need to be re-opened and extended.

Dr Kailash Chand, Manchester,

The high demand for jobs at the registrar level has lead in recent years to many trainees undertaking research, Masters or PhDs to obtain qualifications to enter the next stage of training to be a physician or surgeon.

This new system will reduce the amount of trainees undertaking these research positions. This said I am not aware of any evidence that this research undertaken as a leg up to the next level has led to more doctors subsequently following academic careers. Basically research was undertaken as a CV filler. We may find that Trainees with less hope of progression will actually now stay in research and bolster Academic medicine.

Dr Jonathan Myers, london, uk