I like my local hospital in Norwich. When I’ve accessed its services, I’ve been happy with the results.
However, I was disappointed by a recent communication. I received a letter and a glossy brochure asking me to become ‘a member’ of the trust.
By being a member I would receive regular updates about the work of the trust, be invited to events and be able to vote in governors.
Public engagement with health services is important, but there are ways and means. In this digital age, they shouldn’t be spending a fortune on paper-based communication with thousands of patients.
A different department in the hospital is currently leaning on consultants to compromise their pay. Consultants are being asked to drop half a PA in pay, while still doing the same work, or accept a 5% pay cut for a year.
They’re just proposals at the moment but it’s surprising how many consultants appear willing to consider it.
I’d tell the management to get stuffed until they stop wasting money on recruiting ‘members’ and the like. I’m sure potential members would agree.
Elsewhere news is filtering through of other tough measures. The level of Clinical Excellence Awards is to be frozen until 2013. As they’re pensionable, this is another blow to consultants’ long-term financial security.
And there’s lots of conjecture around pension reform and whether consultants will have to pay a one-off levy to maintain their current benefits.
Is it fair that while consultant pay is frozen for three years local trusts try to guilt their doctors into accepting additional arbitrary cuts? Surely the answers lie in more efficient services.
And it’s so self-defeating when it comes to productivity. One imagines that many consultants, who may never have done any private practice, are considering it now.
Depressing times. If it is to be resisted, we need to start collating what is happening around the country to consultant pay and benefits.
If your trust has made controversial proposals take the opportunity to name and shame them below - you can post anonymously.
