The pay deals for NHS doctors agreed in the middle of this decade were a triumph for the British Medical Association but a disaster for the taxpayer.
The official NHS statistics show that consultants now earn nearly £120,000 on average compared to the £100,000 that they would have been paid under the old contract. Despite this, the Kings Fund has estimated that consultants’ productivity has fallen. Similarly, GPs’ income increased by 20% alone in 2004-05 when their new pay contract was introduced. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee and Health Committee have condemned the introduction of the new GP contracts.
Recommendation: reduce consultants, GPs’ and registrars pay by 10%.
Area: NHS
Total saving: £1 billion
Traffic light status: TBD
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Previous idea for saving: (4) Civil service to adopt four day week for four days' pay
