Letter to Alan Milburn, Secretary of State for Health
24 April 2003
Dear Mr Milburn
Thank you for your letter of 17 April about ‘improving rewards for NHS consultants’.
The CCSC is very disappointed that you have chosen to pursue this line of attempting to implement the rejected contract locally whilst offering incentive schemes as an alternative. The overwhelming feedback we have received is that these options are extremely unpopular amongst consultants and specialist registrars, as well as with NHS employers. I have little doubt that they will not be supported locally and will therefore fail to deliver the reasonable objectives set out in your letter. I would suggest that if you have been led to believe that these proposals will be implemented successfully, then you have been badly advised.
We are keen to work constructively with the Department of Health on the consultant contract. However, it is destructive of the Department to issue the proposed standards on job planning and private practice without seeking to agree them first with the CCSC. Your letter indicates that these have been discussed with the BMA. This is certainly not the case. I look forward to a more constructive approach when it comes to reviewing these standards within the next six months and we remain ready to meet with you at any time to discuss a way forward.
Yours sincerely
Dr Paul Miller
Chairman
Central Consultants and Specialists Committee
Cc Dianne Jeffery, NHS Confederation