§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to review the effectiveness of the new system for consultant merit awards and discretionary points for medical and dental consultants and the funding implications. [HL2084]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathWe reviewed the distinction award scheme in 1997. We implemented changes to the scheme in the 1999 awards round to improve fairness and openness, to achieve greater service focus and to improve the composition of the Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards Membership. We are now keeping the scheme under review and will publish proposals for consultation in due course.
We have recently introduced changes to the discretionary points scheme. From April 2000 the ratio of discretionary points available for each eligible consultant has been increased to enable more consultants to benefit from the scheme and three extra points have been added to the existing scale, along with the introduction of two new service-oriented criteria, which should allow greater recognition of local service achievement. As agreed in the negotiations on a new 207WA consultant contract, there will be a review of local operation of the current discretionary points scheme.
Financial implications are always considered alongside any reviews that are undertaken.