As reported by Sky News. hundreds of doctors face career uncertainty after a major grading error in a key medical exam, with the BMA demanding full compensation
A major exam error has left hundreds of doctors in limbo after they were incorrectly informed of their results in a key medical exam nearly 18 months ago. The British Medical Association (BMA) has condemned the mistake as “catastrophic” and is calling for compensation for those affected.
The Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians (MRCP) Part 2 Written Examination, taken in September 2023, was incorrectly graded due to a data processing issue. As a result, 222 doctors who were originally told they had passed have now been informed that they actually failed. Meanwhile, 61 doctors were wrongly told they had failed when they had in fact passed.
The total number of affected candidates – 283 out of 1,451 – accounts for around one-fifth of those who sat the exam.
The Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, which oversees the exam, has acknowledged the error and offered affected candidates a free resit in March along with a refund of their exam fees. The MRCP Part 2 exam is a critical step for doctors aiming to specialise in fields such as cardiology, respiratory medicine, and intensive care. The exam consists of two three-hour papers with 100 questions each, costing £502 for UK candidates and £672 for international candidates.
The BMA has begun negotiations to ensure that no doctor suffers professional or financial harm as a result of the mistake. Talks involve key stakeholders, including the exam federation, affected doctors’ employers, the General Medical Council (GMC), the Department of Health and Social Care, and the devolved health departments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
A BMA spokesperson described the situation as “appalling” and insisted that affected doctors must be fully compensated for the impact on their careers.
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