Plan to reduce length of medical training will lead to 'lower standard of expertise'

Some leading doctors' organisations say that plans to reduce the number of years of medical training would compromise patient care and safety.

Tom Dolphin, from the BMA Junior Doctors' Committee, told Today the plan would lead to "lower standard of expertise".

He told Today: "The level of expertise that's required of you as a consultant is of a very high standard in this country".

"The training programmes are quite long compared to other countries, but that's because we expect a high standard of our doctors".

"The proposals as they are will not meet that expectation in future".