NHS Employers responds to the announcement that the government, and the unions representing consultants in England have reached an agreement

Responding to the announcement that the government, and the BMA and HCSA unions representing consultant doctors in England have reached an agreement to put an offer to union members, Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive of NHS Employers (part of the NHS Confederation), who chaired the talks between the government and medical trade unions representing consultants said:

“Negotiators from the medical trade unions, the government and NHS Employers have worked hard and constructively over this past month to set out this offer.

“They have sought to address many of the long-standing reform priorities for the employment of the NHS consultant workforce, modernising arrangements first introduced 20 years ago. In particular, the reform of pay scales and improvements to parental leave will improve equity and fairness in pay and employment arrangements. The offer, if accepted, also resolves important concerns on all sides, not least acting to restore confidence in the independence of the pay review process for doctors and dentists.  

“If BMA and HCSA members in England accept the government’s offer, we will be able to bring to an end the disruption and heartache of the dispute between the government and the senior medical workforce in England.”