I was disappointed to read your article on the current situation of the junior doctors' application system, which made little reference to the situation in Scotland (Hewitt in U-turn over doctor training system, The Herald, May 16). The announcement made by Patricia Hewitt does not impact on the process that is under way north of the Border.

Nearly three weeks ago, following discussions with the British Medical Association (BMA), Scotland's Chief Medical Officer decided to opt out of the online recruitment system called MTAS - the source of much of the problems associated with attempts to reform medical training across the UK.

Even before the implementation of this application process, the BMA's Junior Doctors Committee called for a "plan B", an alternative system to rescue junior doctors should technology or the process fail. No such plan materialised and, since the process began, we have been striving hard to provide workable solutions to the problems as they arise.

You state correctly that Scotland is classed as a single region for applications, but you fail to acknowledge that applicants to Scotland could rank their preferences in the four Deanery areas in the country, creating an element of choice. Junior doctors are fully committed to maintaining the highest standards in our training and acknowledge that training posts will be distributed where the best quality training can be delivered, providing a breadth of experience for future consultants and GPs.

Throughout this flawed process, the BMA has been working with the Scottish Executive to make the best out of a bad job, and the efforts of the Scottish Executive should be acknowledged. It has demonstrated a willingness to listen and has been flexible in adapting to ensure that the system is fair and that the best candidates are selected for training positions. It is too late to scrap this process; we have to ensure that the NHS can continue to deliver care for patients - a significant part of this is delivered by trainees. Junior doctors must be in post for the changeover on August 1.

I believe that, in Scotland, we have done what we can within the constraints of the new system. We have represented junior doctors' views at the highest level of government and made every effort to ensure that junior doctors are not disadvantaged. It is easy to say "I told you so" but in this case it is apt. The UK government should have taken its time to plan and prepare for the changeover, implementing the new reforms when the system could cope rather than rushing through a flawed process.

I hope that the independent review of the process will ensure that junior doctors never have to face such disruption again because of a lack of willingness by government to listen and that, in future, change is delivered in partnership with the profession.

Entering into a debate on whether or not this system should be scrapped is unhelpful and unproductive. We should focus instead on creating a safety net for those trainees who are unsuccessful in securing a specialist training post and face an uncertain future in medicine. These junior doctors have dedicated their lives to the medical profession and are vital to the care of our patients for years to come. I hope that NHS Scotland will continue to provide the opportunities to demonstrate this dedication for the duration of their careers.

Dr Graeme Eunson, Chairman, BMA Scottish Junior Doctors Committee, 14 Queen Street, Edinburgh.