Trusts are being urged by the government and the GMC to allow consultants to work part-time for the wider NHS.
Here is a copy of their letter:
We are writing to every employer in the NHS to urge you and your Board to look favourably on requests from doctors for absence to undertake national work of benefit to healthcare systems across the UK.
The government and statutory agencies such as NICE, the Committee on Human Medicines and the General Medical Council, as well as professional organisations such as the Royal Colleges, all rely heavily on senior members of the profession for their expertise and experience in a whole variety of roles.
The part time work they undertake alongside their clinical duties contributes a great deal to the quality of patient care, medical education and the effective running of the health service.
We understand that in the current climate there is considerable pressure on local resources and that you will need to take account of that and ensure that contractual commitments are applied appropriately.
However, we hope you will regard such activity by your senior clinical staff as an investment in the system and a reflection of the high standards in your organisation. The experience gained by the individual will also often be of direct benefit to the unit in which they work.
Of course, a large number of NHS organisations already support this activity, and we are keen to see that continue, but if there is more encouragement you can give, we believe that would bring significant benefit. We would be grateful if you could bring this to the attention of the members of your Board.
Yours sincerely,
Sir Harry Burns, Chief Medical Officer, Scottish Government
Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, UK Government
Dr Tony Jewell, Chief Medical Officer, Welsh Assembly Government
Sir Bruce Keogh, Medical Director, National Health Service (England)
Dr Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health and Social Services (Northern Ireland)
Sir Peter Rubin, Chairman, General Medical Council
