The BMA has entered into a formal dispute with University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) because it plans to cut doctors’ pay for the work they do over and above their working week.
Doctors at the Trust, who are members of the BMA, believe that offering such low rates of pay for the extra work amounts to little more than a pay cut and will put extra burden on colleagues and put patient care at risk. They say that wards and departments are already hugely understaffed and not paying doctors fairly to work evenings, weekends and to fill rota gaps will put even more pressure on staff.
In response to UHB’s planned cuts to pay rates, the BMA is now recommending members affected do not work outside their contracted hours for less than rates the BMA advise, laid out in local dispute rate cards. This will take effect from today, Friday, 8th November 2024.
Last week, UHB wrote to its employees, stating that it would no longer pay enhanced rates for the work doctors do outside of their contracts, and instead would pay only basic salary rates. This move by UHB comes despite the fact they have over 121,000 patients waiting for treatment [1].
Since then, the BMA has given UHB several opportunities to reverse that decision and avoid patient care being impacted by the trusts’ failure to pay their doctors fairly for extra shifts. Unfortunately, UHB has chosen not to respond.
The BMA says that this move contravenes national agreements - that rates for additional work must be negotiated at a local level. As part of the settlement to doctors' industrial action disputes earlier this year, the BMA made an agreement with the Department of Health and Social Care that rates for extra contractual work would be negotiated at a local level, rather than by trusts imposing rates on their doctors.
BMA West Midlands regional consultants committee chair, Dr Rinesh Parmar, said:
“We have been successful in negotiating with other trusts to prevent them making unilateral changes to rates for extra-contractual work and it is disappointing that managers at UHB do not see fit to follow national guidance for the benefit of their patients and staff.
"The Government’s ambition to tackle waiting lists and provide the promised 40,000 extra appointments a week, will rely on doctors agreeing to do extra shifts on top of their contracted work. Doctors are highly skilled professionals and any work outside of their contracted hours should be paid to reflect their skill, workload and experience.
“Without offering appropriate rates for work, the trust runs the risk that doctors will simply not pick up these extra shifts. This will inevitably lead to burnt out doctors, understaffed wards and patients who will have to suffer with poor and delayed care."
Ends.
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.