21 November 2003
Welsh consultants' overwhelming 'yes' vote in the ballot on their new contract will improve doctors' working lives and help recruitment of senior doctors, the British Medical Association said this week.
On November 19, the BMA announced that more than 94% of the consultants who voted backed the contract. Only 85 doctors voted against the deal.
BMA Wales consultants' leader Jonathan Osborne said the vote heralded a new era for hospital doctors in the principality.
'The contract should improve the working lives of consultants in Wales and encourage new consultants to come and live and work in this beautiful country to help fill the current vacancies, particularly in rural areas,' he said. 'It will also help recognise the extra hours that most consultants are currently doing to keep the service going.'
Consultants in England and Scotland have already accepted new contracts. A ballot of senior doctors in Northern Ireland is due this week.
As part of the deal, consultants who work more than 37 hours a week will be paid overtime.
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