Guarantee that all medical students will get a foundation training place is removed
NHS budget constraints coupled with an oversupply of UK-trained medical graduates could lead to more competition for foundation training places, with no guarantee of a job at the end. Oversupply is often perceived as a good thing in terms of competition for places. Arguments about education costs may be overstated, as estimates include some salary costs when the resource is actually contributing to providing services. There is the opportunity to reopen the discussion about foundation training guarantees due to changes in student fees; as students themselves pay more towards their education, should they not be able to choose to go to medical schools even without the guarantee of a job at the end of it? There is a publicly-funded oversupply of other professions such as pilots in the royal air force, or lawyers, for example.
Proposed workforce impact
- Medical students are unable to find a foundation training place.
- There are higher student attrition rates.
- There is higher medical graduate unemployment.
- More medical trainees prefer other careers, for example research.
Sources or references
Additional research questions
- How has competition for places affected other professions (e.g. lawyers)?
Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.
