BMA Launches Contract Information Campaign For SAS Doctors, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 06 Feb 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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The BMA launches a nationwide information campaign to raise awareness of the forthcoming contract vote for 13,000 staff grade and associate specialist (SAS). Using regional meetings, comprehensive web resources and webcasts, the BMA aims to reach out to all SAS doctors in the run up to a crucial vote on their proposed new NHS contract.

SAS doctors perform a wide range of vital tasks throughout the NHS, including supervising operations and helping to staff frontline hospital services, like A&E departments. Despite the huge contribution of SAS doctors to patient care, they are the last group of NHS workers to negotiate a comprehensive new contract.

The BMA's information campaign aims to get SAS doctors up to speed with the proposed contract so that they can make up their own minds about whether to accept or reject the new contract that is being offered by the government.

The campaign centres around a series of regional meetings held across the UK which will give the opportunity to find out more about the contract proposals and question BMA doctors who were involved in the negotiating process. The BMA is also using webcasts which explain the contract to members as well as comprehensive web resources which will allow individual doctors to work out how they will fare under the new contact proposals.

Mr Mohib Khan, Co-Chairman of the BMA's Staff and Associate Specialist Committee (SASC), says:

"SAS doctors have waited years for the opportunity to vote on a new contract and so it is important that they make their voices heard. The BMA will be doing everything it can to contact all doctors concerned with this process, but any SAS doctors who have moved address recently must contact the BMA membership department to make sure they receive our information."

He added:

"This is a crucial landmark in the history of SAS doctors. All those affected by the contract have a responsibility to get involved in the vote."

Notes

The independent polling organisation, Electoral Reform Services (ERS), is conducting the SAS contract vote for the BMA.

ERS intends to send voting papers to all SAS doctors, including those who are not members of the BMA.

View a Q&A about the proposed terms and conditions contained in the contract offer: click here.

View a webcast of Dr Mohib Khan, Co-Chairman of the BMA's Staff and Associate Specialist Committee, speaking about how SAS doctors can get involved in the discussion and voting process: click here.

The Staff and Associate Specialists (SAS) group of doctors comprises 13,000 non-consultant career grade doctors including associate specialists, staff grade doctors and dentists, non-standard (non training trust) grades, clinical assistants who are not also general practitioners, senior/ clinical medical officers (S/CMOs) and hospital practitioners.

http://www.bma.org.uk

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