Although the new government health refoms have cost millions of pounds to the NHS, they seem to have proved to be of very little benefit for the patients.
Cosultants pay and pension have been increased in the NHS but the King’s fund report state that there is no difference to patient care.This has put a lot of pressure on the budgets of the hospitals. There has been no planning and no guidance on this. Many have seen these contracts as 'a box to be ticked' making it a very costly exercise.
Consultants have been asked to work for an extra four hours every week for the NHS, on the assumption that they would give more attention to the NHS before their private practice.
Of course this has only led to a lot of clock watching and reluctance to work beyond stipulated hours
According to the King’s fund, there are 30,000 consultants whose salaries have increased by almost 36% from 2001. As per the new agreement the consultants will have to work for a total of 40 hours a week. They earn extra money while working more sessions.
'So far, it is less clear what the service and patients have got out of the deal beyond greater transparency of consultant workloads,' the report said.
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