Consultants call for industrial action

24 Apr 03
NHS consultants this week threatened industrial action over their contracts despite the government's abandonment of plans to make them work over weekends and in the evenings. Last year, consultants in England and Wales rejected a contract that had bee

25 April 2003

NHS consultants this week threatened industrial action over their contracts despite the government's abandonment of plans to make them work over weekends and in the evenings.

Last year, consultants in England and Wales rejected a contract that had been agreed with British Medical Association leaders. While some objected to limits placed on their private work, many did not wish to schedule non-emergency work outside normal hours.

In response, Health Secretary Alan Milburn proposed in January that trusts implement the contract with local consultants' agreement or set up new incentive schemes to pay doctors who did most to meet annual targets. They could also expand their distinction awards system to top up the pay of consultants who do additional NHS work.

This week, health minister John Hutton announced that the government was pressing ahead with Milburn's proposals, much to the annoyance of BMA consultants' leader Paul Miller.

'We are extremely unhappy that the department has chosen to continue with its plans for local implementation of the rejected contract and incentive payments, despite overwhelming opposition from consultants and negative feedback from trusts.'

He added that the department was not interested in negotiating with the central consultants and specialists committee (CCSC) and warned that grassroots' opinion was hardening.

'The consultants' negotiating team will be meeting shortly to consider a way forward. The

CCSC has already asked the negotiators to consider calls from regional committees for industrial action and no doubt this matter will come up again at that meeting,' he said.

The government is hoping that by removing many doctors' chief complaint it will convince consultants to accept either the contract or the incentive payments.

Hutton said: 'We will ask local trusts to make clear that, if they and their consultants decide to implement the contract locally, they will not schedule non-emergency work at weekends or in the evenings without the agreement of individual consultants. I hope this will remove one important barrier that some consultants have said stands in the way of them accepting the new contract.'

Trusts must choose which option they will adopt by the beginning of June.

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