Updating Britain’s Health Care Distinction Award Scheme
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has called for a freeze on distinction awards for top doctors and urged all four UK governments to support an overhaul of the system.
In a letter to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the health secretaries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Ms Sturgeon has called for a UK-wide review of the awards system.
This would see the existing schemes replaced with a fairer system that recognises the outstanding contributions of the range of practitioners who deliver healthcare in the 21st century.
She has also written to Ron Amy, chairman of the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body (DDRB) to advise them that she wishes the budget to be frozen in cash terms at this year’s level and to see no overall increase in the total number of distinction awards next year.
Ms Sturgeon said:
“Distinction Awards have been in existence in the NHS since its foundation more than 60 years ago. But the NHS now works in very different ways, with a completely different skill mix from that of the past.
“It is important that we recognise and reward the high level of talent that we have in the workforce, but that we do so in a fair and cost effective way.
“The existing schemes are outdated and do little to create a drive for excellence throughout the clinical teams we have now and which we would wish to encourage further. They are, therefore, in need of change.
“However, I believe that change must be approached on a four-country basis to avoid undermining the competiveness of any one country relative to the others when it comes to recruiting consultants.
“In the short term, and in order to signal this direction of travel, I want to see the budget frozen in cash terms for the year ahead. We are in a difficult financial climate at present and the pay of already highly-paid NHS staff should not be increased”
In her letter to Ron Amy of the DDRB, Ms Sturgeon has stated her view that there should be no uplift in the 2009-10 cash value of distinction awards in the next financial year, nor should there be any overall increase in the total number of awards. The only new awards that should be available next year are those that can be funded by cash released by those who retire or leave the service.
Topics: awards, Britain, DDRB, doctor, Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body, Governance, government, health care, practitioner, scheme, Scotland, sturgeon
Print This Article in Plain Text
|
|
Latest Headlines
- Osama Bin Laden Dead?
- Florida To Share $1 Billion For Gulf Coast Restoration Efforts
- Texas Prays For Rain During Extreme Drought Conditions
- Governor Christie Takes Action To Reduce Diesel Emissions, Improve Air Quality
- Governor McDonnell Outlines Draft Transportation Improvement Program
- Alaska Energy Bill Passes Legislature
- Illinois State Building Receives ENERGY STAR Award
- Homeland Security Begins Using National Terrorism Advisory System
- U.S. Outlines New Health Insurance Options For Graduating College Students
- Electrolux Expands In North Carolina, To Create 200 Jobs In Charlotte
- Virginia Storm Victims To Receive Tax Extension
- U.S. Expands Broadband Investment For Rural Areas To Accelerate Job Creation
- U.S. To Invest $130 Million For Advanced Energy Research
- Michigan Passes “I’m Sorry” Bill
- Kentucky Sells Two State Aircraft To Save Taxpayer Dollars
