skip ad

Junior doctors will face even tougher competition for specialist jobs this year, according to the Department of Health (DoH).

In a letter sent to doctors, the DoH said there are expected to be an average of three applicants for every job.

A recent Court of Appeal ruling means that priority cannot be given to UK applicants which means that doctors trained in the UK are also competing against those from across the world who want to come to Britain to work.

If they miss out on a training post, doctors cannot go on to become a GP or a specialist.

"There are around 9,000 posts for around 23,000 estimated applicants, that's what the Department of Health has told us," said Sian Thomas of NHS Employers, the organisation which represents trusts in England.

"One could argue that the more competition you have, the better quality you will get."

But she said "taxpayers money is going to waste" if doctors who had started their training in the UK could not find posts.

The recruitment process for jobs starting in August begins on Saturday.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.