Updates to the consultant 2003 contract - pay progression
Today (19 August 2024), we have published the pay and conditions circular (M&D) 6-2024 that notifies employers in the NHS in England of changes to schedules 15 and 23 of the Terms and Conditions – Consultants (England) 2003.
Download the following updated documents from our consultant contract web page:
- Terms and Conditions – Consultants (England) 2003 version 15
- record of amendments.
We have also developed pay progression guidance for employers to use to implement the new pay progression process.
The new pay progression process forms phase 2 of implementing the pay deal reached to resolve the industrial dispute between trade unions and the government. The Department of Health and Social Care's offer document provides further detail on the full offer.
Phases for implementing the pay deal
Phase 1
Reform of the consultant (2003 contract) pay scale and shared parental leave
Phase 1 of the implementation of the government pay deal provided updates to the consultant pay scale and included the entitlement to shared parental leave. Phase 1 information.
Phase 2
Pay Progression
Pay progression forms phase 2 of implementing the pay deal.
Schedule 15 of the Terms and Conditions – Consultants (England) 2003 has been amended and pay progression guidance has been created.
Schedule 23 Application of terms and conditions of service for NHS consultant clinical academics has been amended to set out that schedule 15 will apply to clinical academics who are paid according to the scales in schedules 13 and 14.
The new pay progression process will apply to consultants with a pay progression date of 1 April 2025 onwards. Employers will arrange a pay progression review meeting with six weeks notice and notify the consultant. The meeting should take place six months but no later than three months prior to the consultant’s next pay progression date.
ESR is undergoing a major update allowing for system changes to enable the pay progression process. The system update will be completed in preparation for 1 April 2025.
Phase 3
Local Clinical Excellence Awards (LCEAs)
The contractual entitlement to access annual awards rounds ceased on 1 April 2024. Therefore, there will be no new award rounds.
Pre-2018 awards are retained and remain pensionable and consolidated. The value of these awards is frozen and the review process for these awards has been removed.
Schedule 30 of the Terms and Conditions – Consultants (England) 2003 will be amended to reflect the agreement reached. Additional discussions on Schedule 30 provisions beyond the scope of the agreement are continuing between DHSC and trade unions, and when these are concluded, an amended Schedule 30 will be published.
