In August 2007, MMC was introduced and required all UK medical graduates to undertake Foundation Training before progression into specialty training programmes.  It is important to know the various "buzz words" associated with the MMC process:

• Run-Through Training
  This is a new streamlined form of training where a National Training Number (NTN) is obtained for a particular specialty e.g. paediatrics and the newly appointed Specialty Training Registrar (StR) starts the process after Foundation.  Training is completed to the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), provided all assessment and competencies have been met.
• Coupling and Uncoupling
  One of the unresolved issues of MMC is the difficult issue of when a trainee who has completed the two Foundation Years should embark on run-through training to their preferred specialty.  Obviously some specialties are more popular than others and trainee numbers must be controlled dependent on future Consultant post predictions.  Some specialties (Obstetrics, Lab specialties and Paediatrics for example) operate run-through from the end of FY2 if a trainee has been selected.  At present, the majority of hospital based medical specialties have a two year Core Medical Training Programme after which selection into a specialty is carried out.
• Fixed Term Specialty Training Appointments (FTSTA)
  These posts are normally for a duration of up to 1 year for trainees who have not been successful in obtaining an NTN in a run-through programme but they may apply for run-through successfully from these posts.
• Career Posts
  These are service posts only available to those who have completed 2 years in a specialty.  Doctors in these posts can also apply for run-through from the post or entry can be obtained to the Specialist Registrar (usually for CCT holders) through a system called "Article 14".

Undoubtedly, continuing modifications will be made to MMC over the next 2 years and it is important to keep abreast of these changes by visiting the MMC website: http://www.mmc.nhs.uk