‘Junior doctors’ now known as ‘resident doctors’

Getty/SolStock

By Sarah Lowden

'Junior doctors' in the UK will now be referred to as 'resident doctors' by the British Medical Association and the government.

For at least a decade, fully qualified doctors who are either currently in postgraduate training or gaining experience as locally employed doctors have commonly been referred to as 'junior' or 'trainee' doctors.

However there have been several campaigns and many calls, from health organisations to royal medical colleges, to change the job title so that it adequately reflects the experience and training of this group of doctors.

The BMA has opted to change the title after a majority of members taking part in a survey earlier this year agreed with the title change.

The union said the term 'junior' is “misleading and demeaning to the skills of doctors”.

During recent pay talks, the government agreed to use the same terminology.

From Wednesday, the word 'junior' will be replaced by 'resident' in all BMA and government communications, with the NHS, media and healthcare institutions all encouraged to follow suit.