Doctors given short notice on pay cuts - union

Doctors are facing cuts to their overtime pay and have been given one week's notice about the change, the British Medical Association (BMA) has claimed.

The union said doctors at the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust would be paid up to 16% less for the work they did on top of their contracted hours.

The BMA entered a formal dispute with the trust - which runs hospitals in Chelmsford, Southend-on-Sea and Basildon - on Tuesday.

The hospital trust's chief medical officer, Christine Blanshard, said it was "absolutely right" that pay rates were reviewed.

She said it was an annual commitment to ensure public money was spent responsibly.

However, the BMA said doctors feared unfair pay would add further strain on a system that was "barely" staffing hospital wards.

The union said the changes - affecting both junior doctors and consultants - would begin from Sunday.

'Gambling'

The BMA said it had advised its members not to work outside of their contracted hours for the reduced rates.

Dr Fia Muratib, from the trade union, said: "Cutting waiting lists relies on doctors who are willing to take on extra work on top of their contracted hours."

She said the trust faced a waiting list of 166,315 in September.

"By lowering the rates for these shifts, the trust is gambling that doctors will do the same work for less," Dr Muratib added.

"If they’re wrong this will lead to understaffed wards, burned out doctors, and increased risk to patient safety."

Responding to the claims, Ms Banshard said patient safety remained the trust's top priority.

She continued: "We must spend the money we have available to us in an efficient and responsible way to ensure the highest possible standards of care.

"We have continued to have an open dialogue with our medical staff and are committed to working together for the good of our patients."