§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the negotiations with the representatives of the medical and dental professions on a new contract for hospital consultants.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe health departments and representatives of the Central Committee for Hospital Medical Services have 139W recently completed negotiations on the content of a new contract for hospital medical and dental consultants.
The negotiations, which began a year ago, had their origin in proposals made by the profession for a form of contract which would more closely reflect variations in workload and responsibility between individuals and between specialties. The Government would see no objection in principle to the introduction of changes of this kind if they were acceptable to the consultant body as a whole. The Government have however been concerned throughout the negotiations to ensure that the interests of the NHS were fully protected in three important areas.
First, we have been determined to preserve the primacy of whole-time commitment to the Service. This is given special recognition in the present form of contract and is essential to the interests of the Service. Secondly, we have wanted to introduce provisions to assist recruitment to specialties and posts where there have been recruitment difficulties in the past. Thirdly, we have pressed for reforms in the distinction awards system for consultants, which would more clearly acknowledge outstanding service contributions, bring about a more equitable distribution of awards between regions and specialties and modify the present confidentiality of the system.
The Government are satisfied that these important objectives have now been achieved in the negotiations.
Accordingly, I wrote yesterday to the representatives of the professions with a formal offer of contract on the terms which have been negotiated subject to their acceptance by the professions as a whole. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, joined with me in this offer. I have placed a copy of my letter and of the terms of the offered contract in the Library of the House.
I understand that the offer will be considered tomorrow at a meeting of the Central Committee for Hospital Medical Services, which will decide whether to recommend its terms to the profession as a whole.