A “catastrophic” exams blunder that resulted in almost 300 doctors being given the wrong results for a key test could have “significant implications” for both NHS staff and patients, senior medics have warned.
Doctors’ Association UK and the British Medical Association called for an investigation after The i Paper revealed 222 medics who were told they had passed the exam 18 months ago had in fact failed.
It is not yet known how many of these 222 may have progressed to becoming registrars. Of the 1,451 medics who took the exam on 6 September 2023, 61 were told they had failed when they had actually passed.
The General Medical Council (GMC) is understood to be looking into whether patient safety was jeopardised as a result of the blunder.
The assessment was the Part 2 written test of the exam series to obtain Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom (MRCP(UK)). The test is one of three parts which must be taken by doctors who wish to progress in their training in a medical specialism.
The MRCP(UK) is an “essential” diploma for all physicians who train in a medical speciality in the UK, according to the Federation’s website. It is vital for any doctor pursuing routes such as intensive care medicine, cardiology, haematology or respiratory medicine to progress from being a resident doctor, formerly known as a junior doctor, to a registrar.
The Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians only carried out a recent audit after one of the medics affected challenged their result, The i Paper has been told. Upon checking the candidate’s answers, officials discovered that almost 300 doctors had been caught up in the computer blunder.
Helen Fernandes, chair of Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK), said: “This seemingly unprecedented situation has and will have significant and widespread implications for those affected and the clinical teams they have been working with, perhaps even the patients they have cared for.
“Those patients may now think they have been treated by someone who wasn’t actually qualified in that specialism and be concerned.
“Postgraduate examinations play a critical role in the training of future hospital consultants, GPs and other grades of doctor. They require intense amounts of study, in a doctor’s own time and are expensive.
“This error will affect career progression, visa applications for overseas doctors. Some are already affected in a very detrimental fashion.”
Ms Fernandes said it was “extremely worrying” that a computerised exam could have made such an error and DAUK is calling for a review of the processes that led to the mistake.
“This blow comes at a time when resident doctors, doctors in training, the future leaders of our NHS are under enormous pressure with workplace stress and burnout, lack of training places, real risk of unemployment and the inexplicable growth and support of physician associates and anaesthesia associates at the expense of doctors’ training and jobs,” she said.
“A review of the processes that led to this situation, alongside open dialogue with trainees and stakeholders, will be an important step in reinforcing trust and ensuring fairness for all candidates.
“We remain committed to supporting doctors and trainees through this process and hope to see constructive steps taken to resolve the situation as quickly and equitably as possible.”
The Federation said incorrect results were given because of a data processing issue. Exam fees will be refunded and resits will take place free of charge.
The British Medical Association (BMA) said the mistake has “far-reaching” ramifications for doctors and patients. Medics who were told they had passed may have since progressed in their careers and could now face uncertain futures, while those who were told they had failed have either paid to resit or may have left medicine altogether, the union said.
Professor Philip Banfield, chair of the BMA Council, said: “Failing an exam is devastating and has consequences for doctors as they work their way up the ladder of expertise; being told you have failed when in fact you have passed, is even worse.
“For those 222 doctors who have spent the past 18 months believing they had passed, but have not, they will be equally devastated and unsure what lies ahead.
“The moral, legal and governance aspects of this truly terrible mistake are far-reaching and must not be underestimated by the public, Government, and the NHS.”
He added: “The ramifications of this appalling situation are far-reaching for doctors and patients. All doctors should have confidence in an exam result – they are central to their careers and to the skills they bring to medicine.
“There must be an immediate independent investigation into this, including how routine audit processes have taken so long to identify this error.
“The federation must commit to significant support and compensation for all the doctors whose lives and careers will be in turmoil today because of this mistake. We want all doctors affected by this catastrophic error to contact the BMA.
“We are talking to the Royal College of Physicians, and we are exploring options for support, compensation, and recompense with our legal team.”
Dr Mike Jones, executive medical director of the Federation, said: “On behalf of the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK, we deeply and unreservedly apologise for this situation.
“We appreciate how distressing the candidates affected will find this, and for some it will create an additional burden to the hard and vital work they do.”
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