Scottish SAS contract update

At the end of last year, I think the whole country was looking forward to starting a new year and putting 2020 behind us. The prospect of 2021 brought us hope and optimism that things would get back to what we previously knew as normal. However, here we are in mid-February and it feels like we’re in the Groundhog Day position we were in last March – another lockdown and a return to high case numbers, hospitalisations and deaths, though now starting to decrease, were in many ways worse than last year.

The other thing that hasn’t changed is my desire to resume contract negotiations for SAS doctors in Scotland with the Scottish Government as soon as possible.

In my last update to you in December, I mentioned that negotiations had been continuing throughout the pandemic for new contract offers for SAS doctors in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).  It has now been confirmed that they have agreed a deal on new contract packages which will be put to a referendum of rUK BMA members in the SAS grades this month. This includes a revised Specialty Doctor contract along with the creation of a new senior Specialist Grade which will provide a clear career framework for SAS doctors to develop and will enable these senior doctors to receive the recognition they deserve.

These new contract developments are not applicable to Scotland, following the Scottish Government’s previous decision to pursue a Scottish specific approach to reform of the Speciality Doctor grade, a move we had supported. While we had expected to start formal discussions last spring, these have been delayed due to the Scottish Government’s wish to focus exclusively on the pandemic response, and the challenges that has brought.

We have continued to engage with both the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland employers throughout this period and I am pleased to report that we are now in the process of agreeing a timeline for Scottish SAS contract negotiations, including an indicative implementation date. This is welcome news and I hope to share more details with you soon.

While all parties have been clear on their intention to pursue a separate Scottish approach to SAS contract reform, we are clear that any new Scottish contract offer will need to be competitive in attracting and retaining SAS doctors. SSASC will be analysing the new contract offers in the rest of the UK and discussing how they compare with the priorities that we have so far established for our negotiations. We will be looking at the aspects that we really like and so would be keen to adopt, and those aspects on which we would be keen to improve. We have, in the meantime, been analysing workforce data, including numbers of staff, types of contracts and work patterns which will help in forming our position when our negotiations get going.

We would like to get Scottish SAS members’ views on the rUK contract proposals, which you can read more about here – let us know if you have thoughts on this or any other matter by getting in touch on BMAScotland@bma.org.uk  

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all again for your ongoing commitment and hard work during what has continues to be a tough and busy winter for the NHS. I hope to be in touch with you soon with some more positive news and further updates on where we are in progressing Scottish SAS negotiations. 

LATEST UPDATE – AS OF MARCH 1st

We have now resumed discussions with Scottish Government and NHS Scotland employers on SAS contract reform in Scotland. Scottish Government officials will now pursue a formal mandate with the Cabinet Secretary to allow them to formally enter contract negotiations. Subject to that mandate being granted, all parties are hopeful that we will be able to reach a deal ready to share with you by the end of 2021. The Heads of Terms for the negotiations that we agreed early last year include an implementation date for any new contract of 1 April 2021, with provision for a review of that date if agreement is not reached in time. As that will now be the case, the effective implementation date for any deal, including any backdating, will be the subject of further discussion and may end up forming part of the contract negotiations.

Bernie Scott, chair, BMA’s Scottish SAS Committee