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The Limpet Clings On Written Evidence at the Health Select Committee
Commenting on MTAS he said that it had been "very, very distressing experience for all the junior doctors concerned, and for those of us who care about people". When asked if it had been rushed, he answered that "With the benefit of hindsight, I think probably one thing that should have been done was that the implementation should have been phased or staggered over a period of time". He deflected a question on FTSTAs by saying these jobs would "prepare a doctor very well, I think, for entering the training rotations which are the longer term posts". To some questions he more evasive answers. To the question "Do you accept that recent workforce planning in the NHS has been "disastrous"? If so, who is responsible for this?" he replied "Perhaps I could ask Ms Chapman to come in on that, as the Director of Workforce." Finally Sandra Gidley MP tried to put the boot in. "Is an apology enough? Seeing as you were the architect of the MMC reforms and also the person ultimately responsible for overseeing their implementation, should you not have actually resigned?" Sir Liam replied "The principles and the policy were commended in the Tooke Report and by others, so I do not think the question of criticism of the policy arises. As I indicated to you, accountability did not rest only with me, it was spread quite widely, and I have already given a pretty full analysis of that in response to an earlier question. Policy in relation to the two factors that made the biggest difference, I think, in the crisis were on international medical graduates and on the design of the application form, and those were not matters where I had overall or sole responsibility." Next week Remedy will have their opportunity to tell the MPs our side of the story. We are giving evidence along with Sir John Tooke to the Select Committee on Thursday 6th December. The session starts at 10.00 and we will be appearing at 11.15. The session is open to Press and Public and is being held in Portcullis House, adjacent to Westminster tube station. It will also be broadcast on the Parliament website.
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Liam
Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer, gave verbal evidence to the Health Select
Committee on MMC. From the public viewing area one could see the beads
of sweat on his forehead as he came under the MPs spotlight.