'NHS racism' hits doctors pay

One in three consultants receives an award

Senior hospital doctors are denied salary bonuses because of the colour of their skin, a study suggests.

Research carried out by the Medical Practitioner's Union has found white consultants are on average three times more likely to receive a distinction award compared to colleagues from ethnic minorities.

In some specialities, the figure is substantially higher. White doctors working in obstetrics and gynaecology, dermatology and general surgery are 10 times more likely to be given the bonus.

Racism is not tolerated within the NHS

Department of Health spokeswoman

In orthopaedics and trauma, white surgeons are 30 times more likely to receive an award.

An estimated one in three consultants receives distinction awards which can increase annual pay from £2,500 to £65,000.

Reward excellence

Regional committees, comprising hospital managers and doctors, and the medical and surgical royal colleges recommend which consultants should receive distinction awards and how the £250m bonus fund is divided.

The awards are in recognition of exemplary performance within the NHS, such as innovation or outstanding clinical and managerial skills.

But research by Dr Aneez Esmail, president of the MPU, suggests the awards are not distributed fairly.

He said the findings showed the NHS is institutionally racist.

"I cannot see any other explanation for it," he told BBC News Online.

"The whole thing should be wrapped up and the scheme should be scrapped and replaced with something that is much fairer."

But the Department of Health rejected the claim.

A spokeswoman said: "Racism is not tolerated within the NHS. Distinction awards are given to consultants based on fair consideration of the merits of each candidate."

The department is planning to replace the current distinction awards with new clinical excellence awards in 2004.

These will reward those consultants who contribute most to the NHS.

However, the department said the awards will be awarded solely on merit and not on ethnic origins.

"It will continue to be a clear duty on those granting the new clinical excellence awards, which will replace distinction awards, to ensure that individual decisions made on these awards are based on individual merit against clearly set criteria."