NI consultants' contract hailed

A new contract for consultants and specialist registrars in Northern Ireland was tonight hailed as the first major change in their working conditions for more than 50 years.

More than eight out of ten of the North’s consultants and specialist registrars voted for a new contract which they claimed will lead to improved services for patients.

The British Medical Association said it was the first real change to their employment practices since the formation of the National Health Service in 1948.

The contract was agreed after negotiations with officials of the British Department of Health, Social Services and Personal Safety in Belfast.

The new terms include:

:: A clear commitment to work 40 hours per week. Any additional work will be by agreement with the employer and paid for.

:: Evening and weekend non-emergency work will now be voluntary.

:: Job plans drawn up with agreement of employer.

:: Improved arrangements for part-time and flexible workers.

:: Additional two days of annual leave after seven years service.

:: Same contracts for new and existing consultants.

Chairman of the BMA’s Northern Ireland Consultants and Specialists Committee (NISC) Mr Kanwar Panesar said the new conditions would help hospitals retain the services of senior medical staff.

“This is a good contract for patients and consultants. We are optimistic that it will help with the recruitment and retention consultants within the NHS in Northern Ireland.

“It should also help boost the morale of our workforce and this can only be better for our patients.”

NISC Deputy Chairman Dr Stephen Vallely, who led the BMA’s negotiating team, said they had achieved a successful result.

“There is a lot of hard work ahead of us in terms of implementing the new contract and we look forward to working with the DHSSPS in taking this forward.”

Dr Brian Patterson, chairman of the BMA’s Northern Ireland Council, said the new contract reflected the effectiveness of the organisation’s negotiating team.

“Even with no Northern Ireland Assembly sitting, this type of negotiation will become an integral and vital part of the BMA’s role in Northern Ireland.

“This successful outcome demonstrates the ability of the association to represent doctors at a local level,” he added.