Press release: NHS Confederation welcomes framework agreement for new consultants' contract

12 Jun 2002

The NHS Confederation, which has been a party to the consultant contract negotiations from the outset, today warmly welcomed the framework agreement for a new contract for NHS consultants.

Alastair Henderson, policy manager for the NHS Confederation, who is on the negotiating team, said:

"This new contract will be good for the NHS, good for individual consultants and good for patients.

With the new arrangements for job planning and the working week, NHS organisations will now be far better equipped to manage and organise the work performed by consultants. This means that the NHS will be able to improve services for patients.

The new proposals on private practice help to clarify the relationship between NHS and private work. They will ensure that the NHS - and NHS patients - do not lose out.

At the same time the new contract gives consultants a substantial increase in their lifetime earnings. In addition, for the first time consultants will have the emergency work they do whilst on-call recognised and rewarded.

The NHS Confederation has for some time called for longer term pay arrangements and so we particularly welcome the proposal for a three year pay.

We recognise that there are a number of issues still to be decided but we believe this is a good contract and hope that consultants will accept it."

Ends

Notes for editors

1. The NHS Confederation represents the organisations that make up the NHS. Our members include the majority of NHS trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts, health authorities and local health groups in Wales; trusts and NHS boards in Scotland; and health and social services trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
   

Contact details

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