15.10.13
Doctors’ contract negotiations formally begin
Formal negotiations have begun with the BMA on doctors’ contracts, as the Department of Health confirms that NHS Employers has a formal mandate to do so.
NHS Employers will seek changes to consultant contracts to facilitate seven day services, reform the local and national Clinical Excellence Awards schemes, and review pay progression.
Junior doctors’ contracts will also be reformed to be safe, fair and affordable and ensure doctors are engaged and valued.
Dean Royles, chief executive of NHS Employers said: “This really is a once in a generation opportunity to refocus doctors’ terms and conditions onto better patient care. And it will definitely be patient care that drives our decision-making process.
“We are pleased that doctors have entered negotiations. They know employers’ warnings that there is no additional funding in the NHS are not a negotiating bluff. They know that there is compelling evidence to ensure more consultants are present in our hospitals during the evening and at weekends. And they know that the longer negotiations take, the more pressing the issues become.
“We hope doctors will enter the negotiations with the same pace and purpose as we will and that we make rapid progress. Changes to terms and conditions are essential to help doctors and managers get on locally with making the patient safety and service delivery changes that will bring about more effective seven day care.
“We also hope that this debate won't be confined to the negotiating table. We need doctors and their professional bodies and medical royal colleges to be making the case for change too. That way we engage the wider medical community in driving the patient safety changes that everyone wants to see.”
The BMA’s Junior Doctors Committee (JDC) co-chairs said: “The BMA took the decision to enter negotiations to make changes to the junior doctor contract in the summer. As co-chairs of the Junior Doctors Committee, we are committed to ensuring junior doctors know what is going on.
“It is still early days in our talks with NHS Employers and much of our discussions have been limited to laying the groundwork for negotiations, as we were waiting for the Department of Health in England to give NHS Employers a mandate to begin formal negotiations.
“This mandate was confirmed on 15 October and formal negotiations have now begun. As the situation develops we will keep you posted.”
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