02 November 2001
The bonuses, known as distinction awards, are paid to more than 3,000 doctors who demonstrate high levels of commitment to their patients, to teaching and to the management and development of the service. There are three levels A+, A and B, worth £62,815, £46,285 and £26,450 respectively. The consultant salary range is £50,810 to £66,120.
Traditionally, the Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards, which hands out the bonuses, has been dominated by doctors. They gave most to white, male consultants and academic doctors.
But changes introduced two years ago to spread the awards more widely, which included strengthening management input and introducing patients' representatives, appear to be having some effect.
Last year, female consultants, who form 21% of the consultant population, received 13.7% of awards. This year, women received 16.5% of awards granted.
Consultants from ethnic minority backgrounds – about 13% of the consultant population – received 10.8% of awards granted last year but this fell to 7.7% this year.
Health minister John Hutton said the number of ethnic minority consultants holding awards was on an upward trend from 4.9% in 1997. And he added: 'I am encouraged to see improvements in the number of awards going to women consultants. The upward trend in the numbers of ethnic minority consultants holding awards is also positive, although there is still a lot of room for improvement.'
PFnov2001
