Citation
Morris, B. (2001), "New annual appraisals for consultants", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 14 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2001.06214aab.007
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited
New annual appraisals for consultants
New annual appraisals for consultants
In October 2000 the Government and the British Medical Association (BMA) jointly announced a new annual appraisal system for consultants.
The new system will mean that employers will, for the first time, be contractually required to carry out annual appraisals, covering both clinical and non-clinical aspects of their jobs. The appraisals will help identify those areas where consultants need to be supported in keeping up to date with the latest and safest developments in medicine. Together with job plans it will help trusts make best use of valuable consultant time and resource and skills. This is intended to result in real benefits to patients by continuously improving standards of care.
New arrangements to allocate over £40 million to reward the hardest working consultants were also announced. The new "`Intensity" payments will reflect commitment that consultants make to the NHS, rewarding them for the unsocial hours and intense nature of their work. Over 80 percent of all consultants will receive an out of hours supplement, with a total of £3,250 extra for those working the most unsocial hours.
Minister for Health John Denham said:
This is a highly positive step forward for the profession. For the first time we will have a systematic approach to monitoring the performance of doctors, and encouraging their professional development. Consultants will be able to identify with their employer professional development they deserve to improve their performance and aim towards excellence. It will enable employers to be sure that the most effective use is made of consultants' time.
Peter Hawker, Chairman of the BMA Consultants Committee said:
The two agreements on appraisal and intensity show what can be achieved through constructive negotiation. Appraisal is important to us because it will enable us both to drive up quality and to ensure that consultants have the resources they need to do the job. We now need to press ahead with substantial negotiations for a new, modern, consultants contract that delivers benefits to patients and protection for doctors.
The new employer-based appraisal system will be a contractual requirement for all NHS consultants from April 2001.