Terms and conditions on the agenda
25 January 2013
The BMA will set out its initial views over potential changes to UK trainee and consultant contracts at a key event next week.
BMA council chair Mark Porter will attend the NHSE (NHS Employers) event of stakeholders with BMA consultants committee chair Paul Flynn, BMA junior doctors committee chair Ben Molyneux, and other association representatives.
Dr Porter said: ‘I will be making a strong case at the stakeholder event on the contract issues facing consultants and junior doctors.
‘I will highlight consultants’ concerns about proposed changes to their terms and conditions and clinical excellence awards, and stress that any reforms to trainees’ terms and conditions must ensure high quality training and manageable working lives.
‘It is very early days and the BMA will be seeking the views of members along the way.’
Should any formal negotiations go ahead, these would take place between the BMA and the NHSE on behalf of the government.
In December, two government-commissioned reports proposed changes to consultant and junior contracts.
One report said the junior doctors’ contract was ‘not fit for purpose’ and recommended a full renegotiation. The other proposed changes to consultants’ awards schemes and other changes to consultant pay structures.