Just Because You're Paranoid... MMCs Part 2

So why has the government brought in MMC? Before I go on, I think it's only fair to issue a paranoia warning. I'm taking the worst possible read on the situation, but I just don't see anything else that fits. I think that this whole process can be summed up in one word - dilution. What we are witnessing is the creation of a low skills workforce that can be paid less, bossed round more and scared into doing what they are told, because there is a surplus of them. This is how I reached that conclusion;

1. Why did the government shorten the period it takes to become a consultant, while at the same time making it more difficult to apply for a speciality?
If the purpose of the exercise was to increase the number of consultants then it makes no sense. If however, the purpose was to produce the same number of consultants, but with less training (whom you can pay less money) then it does make sense.

2. Why did the government choose to make doctors apply to a deanery, rather than allowing them to apply to a trust or a hospital? If there was a shortage of doctors this would make sense, because it would ensure an even distribution of doctors across good and bad areas. But there is a surplus of doctors; there is no need to do this from a distributive point of view.
What this does do is place the doctor entirely at the mercy of the deanery and take away their security. If you're lucky, you might get a post near where you call home. If you're unlucky, you will be uprooted and placed in an unfamiliar setting, in a place that you don't want to work, and where you have no support, because you don't know anyone there.

3. Why was each successful candidate only offered one interview from the deanery? Some candidates are better than others and should therefore get offered more interviews.

Again, this is all about control. A candidate cannot rely on his/her ability; they have to rely on the deanery, and if they don't like the interview they're offered, tough.

4. Why did 75% of the marking system go to answering 150 word vignettes and only 25% to academic qualifications, experience and references? This makes no sense if you want to create a the highest possible standard of doctor.

The government doesn't want a high skilled workforce. It wants a workforce that will just pass muster, that it does not have to pay lots of money to, and which it can control from central government, rather than be subject to the medical colleges. That is the whole raison d'etre of MMC.

The government has run into trouble because of the combined effect of the European Work Time Directive, combined with the cost of PFIs. The only area in which it can save money at the moment in the NHS is on the wage bill and the only way it is going to do that, is to create a situation in which the person is not entitled to a high wage and where they can frighten them enough to comply. Unemployment is a good way of frightening people.

Ok, do you think I'm paranoid? Do you think this couldn't possibly be? Well, it's happened before; this is what happened to the teaching profession. It was gradually broken down over a period of 40 years; now its the turn of the medical profession. Take a lesson from the teachers, docs and get up and fight before it's too late..