'Unjust' junior doctor title should be scrapped, says campaign backed by chief medical officer

Qualified medics with years of experience should not be called "junior doctors", according to Oxford University academics who are calling to end the use of the "discriminatory and belittling term".

Dame Sally Davies, chief medical officer, is backing the campaign, saying doctors should be given job titles that grant them "the respect they deserve".

Some so-called junior doctors have a decade of experience but their title means they can be mistaken for students by patients.

David Matthews, a professor of diabetic medicine at Oxford University, said changing the job title would help doctors to feel more valued.

He told The Times: "It's crazy that we've adopted this terminology. [It's] unjust, progressively inaccurate and detrimental to self-esteem.

"The labels are widely misunderstood by the general public and many doctors will have experienced dismissive behaviour as a result."

A survey among 400 junior doctors found that more than 50 per cent thought the title was bad for morale.

Dame Sally said: "It is important that all healthcare workers get the respect they deserve and this should include how their jobs are described."

The Health Education England, the NHS training quango, agreed to look at the issue, but the final decision would have to be taken by ministers.