Responding to today's BBC report on consultant overtime pay, Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta, co-chairs of the consultants committee at the BMA, said:

"The BBC coverage of rates paid to hospital consultants to cover gaps in rotas and shifts to help reduce waiting lists is disappointingly lacking in context and accuracy. The BMA is also concerned that an opportunity to appear on Radio Four's Today programme to respond to the data was also not fulfilled and no explanation given.

"The BBC's analysis of the FOI data from just 41 hospital trusts in England throws up misleading, but headline-grabbing payments - payments made to a very small number of doctors. They fail to explain that these payments may have been to agencies for long term locums, for example. It is highly misleading for the BBC to describe long term locum arrangements which trusts have established to deal with a shortage of doctors as “additional work” or “overtime”.

"The headlines distract from the real story which is that around 60% of all hospital consultants work some overtime, and have done for at least the past 14 years according to the FOI data, and for nowhere near those rates of pay. Many senior doctors work way beyond their contracted hours for no extra pay, but where they are paid at rates over and above their basic pay, this is to reflect the often unsocial hours - nights and weekends. The BBC states that at least half of the 41 trusts who replied to the FOI are "paying their consultants more than £100,000 in overtime."  What the BBC doesn't make clear is what work is being undertaken, for how long and over what time span, and the source data has not been made available for any scrutiny.        

"It is hugely concerning to see the BBC using data in this way to create a narrative when in fact the focus should be on the desperate need to expand the workforce to make sure we have enough doctors to fill rotas, to give patients the care they need and in the immediate future, how the Government plans to ensure the promised extra 40,000 appointments a week will be provided." 

Notes to editors

The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.