Other points:
Many of us in A&E enjoy one day off per week, by virtue of our on-call
duties. The new contract however will not allow on-call duties to count
towards reducing our sessional commitment. We will however be able to claim,
on the most onerous rotas, 8% of our basic salary, but this is less than one
session, and those of us already on onerous rotas will lose our current
intensity payments which amount to some 5% of basic salary. In other words
we will have a net gain of 3% of salary, but in return for losing our day
off per week.
Looking at the basic salary now, the new contract doesn't provide an
enhanced salary until year 10 or above, even then only amounting to some 5K
per annum up to 15K per annum by 20 years. However the transitional
consultants from years 10 to 20 will have to wait 4 or 5 years to reach the
increment they should have been at, and then have to wait another 4 or 5
years for the next increment i.e. they will remain 4 or 5 years out of sync.
With many in A&E using their day off for category 2 or for private work,
most will be able to earn much more than 15K per annum for this work.
The new contract then seems to offer no overall benefit.
Adrian Fogarty
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