The royal colleges have welcomed the GMC’s and the government’s joint letter to all NHS employers urging them to allow doctors to participate in statutory and professional agencies.
The letter, from the chief medical officers of England and the devolved countries, the NHS medical director and chairman of the GMC, urges trust boards to “look favourably” on requests for absence to undertake national work.
It cites NICE, the Committee on Human Medicines, the GMC and the royal colleges as examples of organisations that rely on the involvement of senior members of the profession for their expertise and experience.
The letter says: “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.”
Such organisations have become increasingly concerned over their operational viability with NHS trusts trying to maximise the clinical productivity of their consultants locally.
The letter continues: “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.”
The Royal College of Surgeons welcomed the letter. It said it relied on members giving up their time voluntarily to help ensure the quality of training and spread high standards within the profession.
It said these activities included leading practical examinations of juniors, sharing their knowledge on courses, and establishing best practice standards or assessing the value of new techniques across different forms of surgery.
Professor Norman Williams, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said: “This letter is an important reminder of the ethos and benefits of the NHS and the role independent charities like the Royal College of Surgeons bring to helping the whole system maintain and improve our world class health system.
“Those trusts that are currently making it increasingly difficult for surgeons to participate and share their expertise at a national level should take heed.”
The BMA has also been lobbying for such work to be better recognised. Employers refusing to allow staff to work in the wider NHS were limiting the expertise available and increasing the burden on a smaller number of employers, a spokesman said.
Read the full letter.