20 October 2000
But if they did, the Department of Health soon snuffed it out. The department quickly denied it had softened its stance on banning consultants from undertaking private practice for seven years after they qualify.
The proposal, which is made in the NHS Plan, has been vigorously opposed by the British Medical Association, which has even threatened to challenge the move under the Human Rights Act.
Some hardline consultants are already said to be planning a mass walkout from the health service over the issue. One proposal is that they may form independent consortiums to sell their services back to the NHS.
The prime minister acknowledged the profession's concerns about the plan but he told the audience of leading doctors that the government was proposing a new career path for consultants.
Young consultants would build up their expertise through working exclusively with NHS patients.
Consultants in the middle part of their career would take on a leadership role, developing clinical practice and undertaking the most complex procedures.
Those in the latter part of their careers would spend a greater proportion of time in a teaching and mentoring role.
But he added: 'All this will need a lot of work and discussion. And we also understand that there will need to be fair reward for those who do most for the NHS. So we acknowledge the concern. Let us keep on discussing it.'
Peter Hawker, chairman of the BMA's consultants' committee, seized on this statement as a hint that the proposal was not set in stone.
'We are keen to start talks and I am heartened to see the prime minister's willingness to engage in dialogue about the best way forward,' he said.
'We believe that our proposals for the consultant contract will deliver what the government wants without resorting to Draconian bans on private practice.'
But the department denied it had altered its position and said it wanted new consultants' skills to be used as much as possible to help NHS patients.
'The prime minister was restating the position in the NHS Plan. We are determined that for seven years new consultants should work exclusively for the service,' it added.
PFoct2000
