BMA: Regional pay plans would damage NHS

The British Medical Association (BMA) has reacted negatively to news that certain NHS trusts are attempting to introduce regionally negotiated pay and conditions to the NHS.

A briefing paper from the industry organisation has claimed that these measures are short-sighted and could potentially undermine the shared national values of the health service.

The consortium of 20 trusts from the south-west of England seeks to break away from nationally negotiated contracts, with proposals including cutting pay, increasing hours and reducing protected time in which consultants can work on non-clinical activities.

However, the BMA warned that this could lead to regional variations in pay, making it harder for some parts of the NHS to recruit and retain high-calibre staff.

Dr Mark Porter, chair of council at the BMA, said: "Instead of wasting resources on short-term measures for which there is no evidence and that will only serve to demoralise staff, we should focus on ways to genuinely improve efficiency and quality."

The BMA also recently hit out at the government's new Public Service Pensions Bill, which it believes will lead to healthcare workers receiving an unfair deal.