A\u202fDepartment\u202fof Health and Social Care spokesman said doctors had been offered a “generous deal”, but said it was now not possible to give the go-ahead on the training posts.<\/p>\n
“These posts would have gone live this month, but as systems now need to prepare for strikes and more uncertainty, it simply won’t be operationally or financially possible to launch these posts in time to recruit for this year.”<\/p>\n
The government said the move would not impact the overall number of doctors in the NHS as the posts were going to be created from existing short-term posts. Resident doctors fill these when they cannot get official training posts.<\/p>\n
Dr Jack Fletcher, BMA resident doctor committee chair, said the announcement was “extremely disappointing”.<\/p>\n
“It is genuinely disheartening to be at this point after what had been constructive talks up until a few weeks ago when the government moved the goalposts.<\/p>\n
“It is simply wrong that the development of the doctors of the future is being used as a pawn like this.<\/p>\n
“We have consistently maintained that we are willing to postpone industrial action should a genuinely credible offer be provided.”<\/p>\n
Alongside the extra training posts<\/a>, the government had offered to cover some out-of-pocket expenses such as exam fees as well as ensuring faster pay progression.<\/p>\n