18.12.12
Junior doctors contract improvements published
The Department of Health has published an NHS Employers report on the contract for doctors in training, and a review of the use of clinical excellence awards.
The DH states it is committed to working with doctors to reach agreement on how the proposals identified in the report should be implemented.
The report highlights the need to provide growing number of doctors completing specialist training with a clear career path, reward excellence and promote the highest quality of care and medical education and support the move to an increasingly consultant-delivered service.
Dean Royles, director of the NHS Employers organisation, said: “The way patients are cared for is changing rapidly. We know care provided at the weekend could be much better. NHS Employers welcomes the opportunity of re-negotiating both the junior doctors' contract and consultant clinical excellence awards to better align them to patient care. This offers a chance to revisit two areas of doctors' pay that have become barriers to modernising services and training.
“The current system of awards definitely needs revision and we are glad the review body supports our view. If we are to have Clinical Excellence Awards then they need to pass the 'Ronseal Test' to ensure staff are rewarded for truly outstanding and excellent contributions to patient care.
“The junior doctors' contract was introduced 12 years ago and has significantly contributed to making working hours safer for doctors and their patients. But the care of patients and the training of doctors has changed and the contract no longer works as effectively as it could for junior doctors or their employers. All parties agree that there are opportunities to improve and modernise the contract, so that it works better for patients, staff and the NHS.
“Junior doctors work most effectively when they are able to focus on the quality of care and the well-being of patients, and on their personal development rather than the rigid shift patterns that have become the norm.
“We are pleased that the Department of Health is now publishing the Scoping Report on the contract for doctors in training, which it commissioned NHS Employers to write, while the Office of Manpower Economics is publishing the DDRB's review of clinical excellence awards. These will provide a range of evidence to support discussions in the new year.
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