Consultants' leaders respond to DoH guidance on consultant contract
Press release
17 April 2003
Commenting on the release of new Department of Health guidance to NHS Trusts on the consultant contract, Dr Paul Miller, Chairman of the BMA Consultants Committee (CCSC) said:
“We are extremely unhappy that the Department of Health 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.
“The Department of Health has at least made a significant concession when it states that there will be no compulsion for consultants to work evenings and weekends, if they accept a new contract locally. Whilst we are pleased that consultants’ fears and concerns on this issue have been heard, why could Alan Milburn not have worked constructively on the issue with us at a national level?
“We are dismayed that the Department of Health has chosen to unilaterally introduce codes of conduct on job planning and private practice. Contrary to what is implied in the Secretary of State’s letter, these documents have not been agreed or even discussed with the CCSC. Indeed, we have major concerns about their content. They will impact on all consultants, not just those who might take a new contract. The indication that the Department is to make available terms of service for a new contract is possibly of even greater concern. Again, we have had no discussion on this issue.
“This demonstrates once again that the Department of Health has no interest in engaging in constructive talks with the consultants' representative body to seek a sensible way forward for all NHS consultants. We are keen to see the NHS reform and modernise, but it is difficult to see how we can continue to work with the Department if this is the way they intend to operate. We have therefore today called off a planned negotiating meeting and it is unlikely that any discussions will take place in the foreseeable future.
“The consultants’ negotiating team will be meeting shortly after Easter to examine the details of the guidance and 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.”