It’s been a while since we updated you around the new contracts. If you want to have a read all about them – have a look here. However as I suspect you know, the deadline for job planning and offers for the new SAS contracts is set at 31 May which is now fast approaching. We have heard from and understand some Boards are struggling to achieve this deadline. On that basis, MSG have issued an instruction to Boards this week that the deadline can be extended to 31 July.
Technically, schedule 24 Para 12 of the new Specialty Doctor contract already allows for extension in the case of absence due to, for example caring or sick leave. It also establishes the principle of fair and equal treatment with no detriment suffered as a result. This principle can be extended into cases where there has been a delay in concluding the job planning/job offer process where the Board has been unable to meet the original deadline.
In line with the above principle, it will be open to Boards to give more than six months back dating where there has been a delay in concluding the job planning process attributable to the Board, rather than the individual doctor, as long as the backdating period commences no earlier than 1st October 2022. Where any delay is attributable to inaction on the part of an individual doctor the maximum backdating period will remain at six months, regardless of the date the job planning/offer process concludes.
As set out in the agreed terms and conditions, it remains the case that backdating is not available to doctors who did not express interest by 6th January 2023.
So for example, where the doctor has expressed an interest by 6 Jan 2023, but job planning is not concluded until 30 June and the delay in concluding is attributable to pressures of work in the employing Board, then the doctor would be entitled to backdating to 1 Dec 2022 (6 months – as if concluded by 31 May) PLUS one additional month (so effectively 1 Nov) to account for the delay. If delayed until 31 July then it would 2 additional months (so effectively to 1 Oct).
We are updating all the information online – but do please share this and flag to colleagues. And as always, if you or indeed any of your colleagues need individual advice or assistance with this then they can contact our advisers on 0300 123 1233 or support@bma.org.uk
If you have been following the long running discussions about pensions, you will be interested to know that the consultation has now opened on new contribution tiers for Oct 2023 and Oct 2024 in Scotland (now available on the SPPA Website). Importantly this finally includes the move to contributions based on actual pay (rather than WTE) and phased removal of the top two contribution tiers, similar to the rest of the UK. The move to contributions on actual pay is of course particularly important for those working LTFT and we know a lot of SAS doctors fall in to this group. We’ll be preparing a formal response in the coming weeks and look out for more information on this. Individual responses can be emailed to: sppapolicy@gov.scot. The consultation is open until Tuesday 15 August 2023.
Sine Steele, deputy chair SSASC
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