2 - Work for local authorities
Doctors assisting local authorities
Important note:
From 31 March 2008 fees for part-time or occasional work which is directly reimbursed by local authorities will no longer be negotiated on a national level by the British Medical Association, through the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for Doctors Assisting Local Authorities. The JNC’s decision to no longer uprate fees at a national level is available in a management side circular issued by the JNC. This circular is available on the BMA website under ‘Fees'.
While it is the legal responsibility of local authorities to set a schedule of fees, it is expected that in most cases authorities will wish to agree new fees. Doctors are therefore advised to agree fees for this work, with their local authority. As the fees will no longer be agreed nationally, the BMA will not be publishing them. However, the current (2007) fees still exist until they are replaced at local level and therefore may still be used as a reference point by local authorities.
These arrangements do not cover work commissioned by local authorities in the fields of education, social services or public health, which are paid for under the ‘collaborative arrangements’ (see section A).
These fees do not apply in Northern Ireland but are accepted as guidance by some local authorities.