HC Deb 01 February 1990 vol 166 cc324-6W
Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the amount of distinction awards paid to consultants in each of the area health authorities of Wales for the last five years;

(2) what sums have been made available for top-up bonuses to hospital consultants in each health authority in Wales in the financial year 1988–89 and in the current financial year; and how much will be budgeted for each authority for the 1990–91 financial year;

(3) what total sum has been made available for distinction awards to hospital consultants in Wales in the financial year 1988–89 and in the current financial year; and how much will be made available in the 1990–91 financial year.

Mr. Grist

The information is as follows:

Notes:

1 Medical and dental consultants, NHS staff and honorary contract holders

2 Allocation in 1989–90 takes account of overprovision in 1988–89.

3 Further funding may be made available in the light of any recommendation for increases in the numbers of consultant distinction awards by the Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out the procedure by which distinction awards are allocated for senior hospital consultants in Wales.

Mr. Grist

Distinction awards are made on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards. That committee approaches its regional network of committees, the Royal College and Faculties, the public health laboratory service, the Medical Research Council and regional specialist advisers for nominations. The chairman of the committee then visits each regional committee between May and September to discuss their recommendations and all the nominations received from other sources in order to draw up a provisional list for the consideration and final decision of the advisory committee.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the criteria against which distinction awards are made to senior hospital consultants in Wales.

Mr. Grist

There are no formal objective criteria of award worthiness. General guidelines only are used by the awards committees which look for performancesover and above the call of duty. Principally these can be indicated by (a) clinical excellence and recognition of leadership in a specialty; (b) research, innovation and improvement in the service; and (c) hard work and outstanding service to the NHS.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of hospital consultants who received top-up bonuses in each health authority in Wales in the financial year 1988–89 and in the current financial year.

Mr. Grist

The numbers of practitioners who received distinction awards in 1988–89 in each health authority are as follows:

Number
Clwyd 35
East Dyfed 17
Gwent 35
Gwynedd 23
Mid Glamorgan 24
Pembrokeshire 6
Powys 4
South Glamorgan 127
West Glamorgan 36

Notes:

Although practitioners are eligible for only one distinction award, some are included more than once in the above list because they work for more than one health authority.

Figures for 1989–90 are not available because the awards for this financial year have not yet been announced.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the period of years for which any distinction awards will operate when awarded to any hospital consultant in Wales.

Mr. Grist

Distinction awards are, at present, paid to consultants until they retire. The White Paper Working for Patients" proposes a number of changes which would result in the new awards being reviewable every five years and new or increased awards being pensionable only if the practitioner works for another three years in the NHS.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales who is involved in deciding the allocation of distinction awards to senior hospital consultants in Wales and who takes the final decision.

Mr. Grist

Consultant distinction awards in Wales are made by the Secretary of State on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards.

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the maximum salary of National Health Service consultants in Wales, inclusive of distinction awards.

Mr. Grist

The maximum salary of NHS consultants is currently £38,340. In addition to this, a consultant may be in receipt of one of the following distinction awards A+ £36,420; A £26,840; B £15,340 or C £6,760. The current maximum compares with a maximum of £15,279 in 1979, an increase in real terms of 36 per cent.

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