A call to abandon a flawed system for selecting junior doctors for training posts has been rejected.

The official Department of Health-appointed review group charged with making sense of the system concluded yesterday that it was “not a credible option” to abandon the Medical Training and Application Service completely.

“It would be impossible to place the best candidates in posts and fulfil the service needs in time for August using the old system of recruitment,” the panel said. August is the month in which doctors take up their new appointments.

Instead, all junior doctors have been offered fresh interviews in an attempt to ensure that everybody has a fair chance. They will now be asked to revise their choices in the light of information about the ratio of applicants to posts in each specialism. This means that they can choose a less competitive specialty or area, and be guaranteed an interview.

The results of the interviews carried out in the first round will count, but again applicants will have three days (April 20-23) to revise or reaffirm their preferences before being guaranteed an interview for their first preference.

Yesterday the British Medical Association gave its approval. Jo Hilborne, chairman of the BMA’s Junior Doctors’ Committee, said that the move was “a practical way forward”. Jona-than Fielden, Chairman of the BMA’s Consultants Committee, said that it was the most practical way to secure a fair outcome for junior doctors.

The President of the Royal College of Surgeons, Bernie Ribeiro, said last night that special arrangements would be made for surgeons.

Those who do not get a post this time can train in “transitional training posts”, and apply in 2008 or 2009 for training positions.

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