Breakthrough in consultant contract talks
pharmafile | October 31, 2003 | News story | |Â Â Â
Doctors' leaders have declared a breakthrough in the long-running and bitter dispute over the new consultants' contract.
The halving of the hours a week to four that new consultants must work before taking on private work has been a key concession from the Government, but the contract will also enshrine the principle that the NHS should "have first call" on doctors' unallotted working hours.
Another key issue was the widespread fear among consultants that NHS managers would have excessive control over them, but the BMA are now happy these concerns have been addressed in clear guidelines.
Chairman of the BMA Consultants Committee Dr Paul Miller said he believed the new deal was the best available package, and would urge consultants to vote for it in September.
"In the past two weeks we have had an intensive, difficult, but constructive talks with the Department of Health. We have made progress on a number of issues which are very important for consultants", he said.
"One of the improvements is that there will no longer be any differential treatment for new consultants. Job planning will give priority to the professionalism and clinical judgement of consultants. There will be a fair and balanced appeals panel where agreement is difficult. While consultants will continue to provide emergency care during evenings, nights, and weekends, routine work during those periods will be voluntary and rewarded at an enhanced rate".
The departure of Alan Milburn and the appointment of John Reid as his successor as Health Secretary was an opportunity seized by both sides to break the deadlock.
John Reid said he would "go the extra mile" to resolve the dispute, over which consultants have threatened to strike, and which saw his predecessor threaten to force the agreement on the doctors.
The DoH said there would be "clarification on appropriate managerial control" to resolve consultants' "misconceptions" after the issue led consultants to reject an earlier re-draft of their contract last autumn.
The agreement offers consultants no new money over the previously agreed financial package that will give them a 10% rise of the next three years.
Earlier this year more than a quarter of hospital consultants indicated they were ready to resign or retire from the NHS if they were not offered a satisfactory contract.
The breakthrough follows the recent approval of a new contract by GPs, which had also looked in serious doubt after BMA negotiators seriously miscalculated doctors' incomes.
