The public apology from Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt indicates that at last there is recognition from government that the new application procedures for hospital junior doctor training has been a shambles. This had been predicted by many senior and junior medical personnel but was never heeded. The absence of any obvious accountable person made it difficult to register any concerns.
The Royal Colleges appeared complicit, nobody within their ranks appearing to have the courage to speak out and encourage a reappraisal of the situation. The emperor's new clothes has a certain ring. This debacle has potentially ruined the careers of many young doctors, some of whom will leave the UK, while others may be forced to train in a specialty for which they have less enthusiasm. Some have expressed a desire to leave the profession entirely.
This is not good news for healthcare in this country. The chairman of the MTAS Review Committee, Professor Alan Crockard, did the honourable act by resigning but the overall responsibility goes much wider and I believe there are others who should be contemplating a similar exit.
Dr Nigel McMillan, Consultant Radiologist, 5 Woodburn Road, Glasgow.
The inquiry into contaminated blood is very welcome; maybe we will find out the truth as to why the government buried its head in the sand despite being told of the problem by the World Health Organisation.
I received contaminated blood in 1986. This has devastated my life and friends and family. Health Minister Caroline Flint says she is glad the introduction of HIV therapy has kept some of us alive. Taking medication may have kept us alive, but it is also a constant reminder of what has happened to us. This has affected thousands of people. The government says it did all it could but it ignored all the research. As a result, thousands of us have been given a life sentence without any chance of parole.
Gary Kelly, 100 Cartside Street, Glasgow.
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