Electronic Letters to:

Education & training:
Paul Whelan, Peter Jarrett, Maja Meerten, Kate Forster, and Dinesh Bhugra
MTAS fiasco: lessons for psychiatry
Psychiatr Bull 2007; 31: 425-427 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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[Read eLetter] MTAS fiasco: further shortlisting issues
Gregory J Lydall   (4 December 2007)

MTAS fiasco: further shortlisting issues 4 December 2007
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Gregory J Lydall,
ST4 General Adult Psychiatry
Camden & Islington Mental Health & Social Care Trust, Highgate Mental Health Centre, London , N195NX

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Re: MTAS fiasco: further shortlisting issues

grogl{at}doctors.org.uk Gregory J Lydall

Before the Review Group allowed for guaranteed interviews, a north London psychiatry rotation was surveyed regarding their MTAS experiences in a similar method to that of Whelan et al (Psychiatric Bulletin, November 2007, 31, 425).

37/52 (71%) responded. 32/37 (86%) were shortlisted at all, 18 (49%) were offered 1 interview, 8 (21%) two interviews, and 3 (8%) were offered three or four interviews. The ratio of applications to interviews was 2.3:1.

This group, which had been competitively selected within the last 2-3 years for basic psychiatric training in a popular London rotation, did well to achieve shortlisting in any geographic area, when compared with 60% in Whelan’s sample. But 19 (51%) of these London trainees were not shortlisted by MTAS for London . Conversely, 12/19 (63%) of those shortlisted for London (generally assumed to be competitive) were not shortlisted elsewhere.

1/5 (20%) of applicants with Highly Skilled Migrant Permits (HSMP, forming 3% of the total sample) were not shortlisted; compared with 4/31 (13%) with UK/EEA/Spousal visas who were not shortlisted.

Text comments attest to the emotion behind the numbers:

“The lottery-like [shortlisting] result ... illustrates the absurdity of this process.”

“...I think it's not so much the system as the loss of 8000 jobs that is appalling. “

“Why should doctors with families ... have to consider 'less competitive geographies' ... especially as we have been appointed in open competition in the old system?”

Like Whelan this small survey highlighted the questionable validity and reliability of the initial MTAS shortlisting process.