The TUC-affiliated Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) has described the next few months as “challenging times” after the release of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) review which sets out observations on the provision of seven-day services and the hospital consultants contract.
The HCSA, which represents thousands of consultants and hospital specialists, is calling for a central role in talks in order to safeguard its members and patients’ interests.
HCSA President John Schofield said: “We support this Government’s clear commitment to resourcing high-quality emergency medical services seven days a week.”
“The HCSA will continue to work with NHS employers and others, including support and administrative services, to make this possible.”
“We need to study these latest recommendations carefully to ensure that they are fit for purpose, improving patient experience and patient safety, and emphasising the value of strong clinical leadership.”
HCSA general secretary Eddie Saville said: “This is a challenging time for our members.
“We know that many consultants already provide seven-day services throughout the UK. The HCSA supports the concept of seven-day services. However, this will require hospitals to be properly staffed so that the quality of care is the same every day of the week.
“We believe we can refresh future discussions on this issue. We would call on the Government to involve the HCSA in any future negotiations to enable us to give voice to our members’ views.”
Additional Resources
- Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) observations (PDF)
- Original HCSA submission to DDRB review (Word document)