Up to 50,000 patients will be at risk on Wednesday - because hospitals could be short of 2,300 doctors.

August 1 is the deadline for the annual promotion of junior docs in the NHS.

But a computer cock-up means scores of hospitals have yet to fill vacancies.

And that means cancelled ops, postponed appointments and understaffed wards.

British Medical Association chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum warned: "Getting doctors in post is a patient safety issue."

And shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Excellent junior doctors can't find posts and patients won't get treatment."

 ... Matthew Shaw, of the junior docs' group Remedy UK, said: "It's carnage. My hospital is still interviewing for jobs which begin on Wednesday.

"And patients are at risk because it's difficult to find the locums to cover."

Read more ...