Last night's breaking news was on the meaning of words.
Closer analysis is more sobering. The words may have changed from 'imposition' to 'introduction' but the Contract is still set to come in nonetheless.
It has always been the case that the Contracts will be introduced by the Trust CEOs. Indeed that is why many junior doctors, including our own @ASPHFT wrote directly to their CEOs asking to stall the imposition until more details/ talks could be provided.
Whilst theoretically Foundation Trusts could have some autonomy and stick to the Current Contract, they are under enormous pressure from Health Education England to toe the line. Chris Hopson, CE of NHS Providers, composed this response to the question 'could CEOs resist imposition':
The sinister paragraph is this one:
In other words, behave or we'll take your trainees away.
Clearly if enough Trusts delayed or deferred imposition, HEE would be stuck as trainees have to go somewhere, but are there sufficient CEOs brave enough to stick their head above the parapet?
There might be, if the endgame is to secure enough doctors for their particular Trust in August.
Already HR departments are receiving enquiries from August starters to see if they can start in July and get on to the existing contract. This cannot be the case at ASPH btw: everyone whose contracts are being extending are being warned in writing that they will be changed onto new contract in August.
Rota gaps have left some hospitals desperate. You may have read about Chorley A&E closing at night as neither substantive appointments nor locums could be recruited to allow safe staffing.
Locum cap-busting rates are being offered all over the place to get last minute shifts covered: I noticed London surgical trust grades posts advertised with additional funding for MScs. It does seem a very short step to offering local contracts.
I've mentionned before the drop in applications this year at CST & T&O HST interviews. This seems reflected in other specialities and fill rates (successful applicants taking up an offer) seem to be low in some parts of the country.
LNC Meeting
This week saw another sitting of the LNC (Local Negotiating Committee). Any idea what that is?
LNCs are made up of elected local representatives (BMA members) who negotiate – and have the authority to make collective agreements – with local management on behalf of medical and dental staff of all grades.
Your LNC is made up of elected Consultants, Associate Specialists and your elected Junior Doctor BMA reps as well as our BMA Industrial Relations Officer Cathy Taylor. We meet with Trust representatives, usually the Deputy Medical Director, sometimes the Medical Director, and Human Resources.
On the agenda this week was the Junior Doctors Contract. Timescales are such that the Trust feels obliged to start planning for new starters in August. Clearly rota design works best with involvement from the people who will be manning it. However as the BMA's position is not supportive of this contract it was not appropriate for us to make any comments.
Some Good News
I want to leave you with some cheery news, and that's @ASPHFT has been nominated for an award: http://www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/latest-news/1505-trust-shortlisted-for-quality-of-care-award
Ashford & St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been shortlisted for the 2016 CHKS Top Hospitals Quality of Care award, for demonstrating a commitment to delivering outstanding performance in providing a safe hospital environment for its patients.
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