Consultants call halt to overtime

Consultants rejected a new contract last year

NHS consultants have been urged to stop doing unpaid overtime by their trade union.

The British Medical Association has advised senior hospital doctors to only carry out the work they are required to do under the terms of their existing contract.

Such a move could have a devastating impact on some parts of the NHS. Many hospitals depend heavily on the additional hours worked voluntarily by consultants.

But BMA leaders denied they were calling on consultants to begin a work-to-rule.

However, the move will be seen as the latest attempt to turn up the heat on ministers, who are refusing to re-open talks on a new consultant contract.

Contract stalemate

Consultants in England and Wales voted overwhelmingly against a proposed new contract last year, saying it would give hospital managers too much say over how they work.

Ministers have so far rejected calls to re-open talks and are pressing ahead with plans to introduce the deal locally, where there is support from doctors.

We are certainly not going to renegotiate the contract

Health Minister John Hutton

Earlier this month, the BMA threatened to take legal action against the government, claiming some elements of the existing contract are illegal.

Officials have also said they have not ruled out taking industrial action if the government fails to return to the negotiating table.

The BMA has now issued guidelines to consultants advising them to "use their current contracts to better manage their workload".

It suggests that consultants should claim extra money for any additional work they carry out.

It also advises them to ensure they are not working more than 48 hours a week.

It urges consultants to request a review with mangers "if it is felt that they are working excessively beyond the reasonable requirements of the job".

Unpaid overtime

Many consultants carry out additional work that is not always spelt out in their contract and for which consultants say they are not paid.

According to the BMA, three out of four NHS consultants work more than 50 hours per week.

Dr Paul Miller, chairman of the BMA's consultants committee, said: "This is a package of guidance to consultants that outlines to them what their current contract does and does not require from them.

"Independent surveys have shown that consultants on average work very long hours - over 48 hours (per week) for patients in the NHS.

"We cannot get decent or new contractual terms from the government who have walked away from the negotiating table so we are setting out for consultants throughout the country what they do and do not have to deliver under their contract."

He acknowledged that moves by consultants to stop doing unpaid overtime could threaten government targets to improve the NHS.

"In some instances, it would be likely to jeopardise the government's targets. The NHS exists on the goodwill of all its staff and particularly that of consultants working long hours over and above of what is required of them.

"The government has squandered that goodwill in the case of consultants and unless we see a change of approach by government it is hard to see how they will ever recapture that goodwill."

He urged the government to "restart sensible talks" on a new contract.

But Health Minister John Hutton said: "We are certainly not going to renegotiate the contract."

He added: "What we need now is a way forward. The best way to do that is with local agreement and discussions between consultants and local trusts."

The BMA has called a special meeting of consultant representatives to be held next week to discuss its next move in the row over the contract.