There have been important changes to the National Clinical Excellence Award scheme (NCEAs) which will now be known as the National Clinical Impact Award scheme (NCIAs). These changes were introduced unilaterally in spite of the BMA's significant concerns. Read more about our concerns.
The National Clinical Impact Award (NCIA) scheme in England and Wales - formerly the National Clinical Excellence Awards (NCEA) scheme - aims to reward the consultants who contribute most to the delivery of safe and high-quality care and the improvement of NHS services. This includes consultants and senior academic GPs who do so through their contribution to academic medicine.
In Scotland, consultants can apply for discretionary points. In Northern Ireland, there has been no award scheme run for several years.
Local Clinical Excellence Awards (LCEAs) in England 2022/23
The BMA have been in consultation with HSCA, NHSEI, DHSC and NHS Employers to attempt to develop a new local awards scheme which is fairer. Unfortunately, the BMA were not able to agree to the final proposal due to a number of concerns with the proposals. Read more about these concerns in detail on our LCEA negotiations page.
The specifics of how the scheme operates will remain subject to local negotiation.
We remain willing to engage with DHSC and NHS Employers to develop a new national scheme that is fair and believe that until this happens, the fairest method is to continue to the arrangements that operated during the pandemic and equally distribute LCEA funding to consultants.
LCEAs values
The unit value of a new LCEA (i.e. one granted after 1 April 2018) is £3092. This unit is used to determine the total level of funding that a Trust must provide in each year. Awards granted do not necessarily need to be determined by this unit value.
| Level | Existing LCEAs (those granted prior to 1 April 2018) £ | National CEAs awarded by ACCEA £ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3,016 | |
| 2 | 6,032 | |
| 3 | 9,048 | |
| 4 | 12,064 | |
| 5 | 15,080 | |
| 6 | 18,096 | |
| 7 | 24,128 | |
| 8 | 30,160 | |
| 9* or bronze | 36,192 | 36,192 |
| 10 or silver | 47,582 | |
| 11 or gold | 59,477 | |
| 12 or platinum | 77,320 |
* A local level 9 can be awarded national which is the same as a bronze level award
National Clinical Impact Awards (NCIAs) 2022
The BMA has significant concerns about the NCIA process. It is important you consider carefully the impact of these concerns before applying for or receiving an award.
Further information on applying for a CIA is available on the ACCIA website, including the word version of the application form which can be started now in advance of the award round opening. We advise that applicants read all supporting documents, including guidance for employers, and assessors to understand how best to present their application.
Candidates are responsible for submitting their online CIA application as per the instructions on the ACCIA website.
NCIAs values (per year for 5 years)
| Award level | England £ | Wales £ |
|---|---|---|
| National 0 | 10,000 | |
| National 1 | 20,000 | 20,000 |
| National 2 | 30,000 | 30,000 |
| National 3 | 40,000 | 40,000 |
What to demonstrate
National CEAs/CIAs are awarded to consultants who work in England or Wales, and who:
- demonstrate sustained commitment to patient care and wellbeing, or improving public health
- maintain high standards of technical and clinical aspects of service while providing patient-focused care
- in their day-to-day practice, demonstrate a commitment to NHS values and goals by participating actively in job planning, observing the private practice code of conduct and achieving agreed service objectives
- through active participation in clinical governance, contribute to continuous improvement in service organisation and delivery
- embrace the principles of evidence-based practice
- contribute to our knowledge base through research and participate actively in research governance
- are recognised as excellent teachers, trainers or managers
- contribute to policy-making and planning in health and healthcare; or
- make an outstanding contribution to professional leadership.
Award schemes in the devolved nations
CEAs in Northern Ireland
Consultants in Northern Ireland have been denied new CEAs since 2013.
Distinction awards in Scotland
The distinction awards budget in Scotland has been frozen since 2010, with no new awards and no progression through the scheme. The Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards undertakes five-yearly reviews of distinction awards for those who already hold them.
Discretionary points in Scotland
There is no nationally agreed application process for discretionary points, and arrangements vary between employers. Most employers have adopted a process following agreement with the local negotiating committee.
All consultants who have reached point five of the pay scale are eligible for consideration. Distinction award holders are ineligible. Consultants granted discretionary points are not normally considered again for two years, although this may vary..
Commitment awards in Wales
As part of the reformed pay scale achieved during negotiations for the 2023/24 pay year commitment awards have been discontinued, bringing the total investment they represented into the basic pay scale instead. This means that everyone can now access higher pay values, rather than only those with a significant number of years in post, and they cannot be frozen in the future as has happened for the past few years.
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