Trainees' anger at fees hike

24 May 2010

JUNIOR doctors have hit out at the rising cost of physician training fees – with some considering a boycott.

Trainees expressed their anger at news of a 22 per cent increase in enrolment fees for the Joint Royal College of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB). They spoke out during this month’s BMA junior doctors’ conference in London.

Former BMA junior doctors’ committee chair and SpR in cardiology Andy Thornley said: “Is there any evidence [the JRCPTB] has tried to cut costs? No. All they have done is increase the fees that junior doctors pay to them by 22 per cent. I think this is outrageous. They have to accept that junior doctors will no longer write them a blank cheque.”

There were calls for a number of measures to be put in place to protect juniors from rising training costs. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists sparked further anger with its recent decision to increase its annual subscription fee to the trainees’ register by 50 per cent to £120.

Dr Thornley condemned the rises and highlighted the fact most junior doctors have only been awarded one per cent pay rises in this year’s pay review. He said bodies who pushed up fees should be made to justify the decision.

A possible boycott of JRCPTB fees was also discussed at the conference if junior doctors’ demands were not met. They want organisations who charge fees to publish their accounts online, develop ways of controlling costs and limiting any increases to be no higher than the annual junior doctors’ pay rise.