Clinical academic contract (England) update
3 December 2003
The MASC Executive Subcommittee met on 21 November to complete the consultation within the BMA on the clinical academic contract documentation. The meeting had input from Industrial Relations Officers, the Head of the BMA’s senior hospital doctors division and other experts from the Political and Representational Activities Directorate. Agreement was reached that MASC would strongly recommend the contract to members. It was expected as agreed that the University consultation process would occur in parallel to expedite a ballot process before Christmas.
Following some delays the university and colleges employer's body finally will be in a position to consult its subscribing institutions on the clinical academic consultant contract proposals from 3 December. This process is expected to take two weeks. When comments have been received from the university employers, a discussion will take place with the BMA and BDA to approve the documentation, before it is then put to ballot amongst clinical academic staff themselves. The ballot dates will be set to take account of the Christmas period, and to ensure that clinical academics have the fullest opportunity to express a view on the proposed contract.
The university employers have given undertakings that the deadlines for signing up and agreeing a job plan will be extended to enable the consultation and ballot to take place. We anticipate that these schedules will mirror those available to NHS consultants - for example, there will be a three-month period to agree an integrated job plan before there is any impact on the arrangements for backdating to April 2003 (or your incremental date).
Other issues:
Representatives of the MASC and the Medical Students Committee met on 21 November to discuss:
1. The proposed transfer of medical education funding to the Department of Health from the Department for Education and Skills, and;
2. The recent consultation on university admissions.
The debates were extremely constructive. It is hoped to continue these joint meetings to raise the profile of the university sector within the BMA.
The MASC is also looking at the future of undergraduate medical teaching and the potential interaction of a raft of policy initiatives that may have significant impact on how this is delivered, such as the proposed transfer of medical education funding to the Health Department, the NHS university, Modernising Medical Careers, PMETB, and the new consultant and GP contracts.
Yours sincerely
Professor Michael Rees
Chairman
BMA Medical Academic Staff Committee