Reports from the BMA negotiating group suggest that agreement is soon to be reached for the contract to be put before SAS members to vote on.

A single spine structure appears to have been agreed upon. Payments for on call work and the use of programmed activities (PAs) to structure SAS contracts will develop along similar lines to that of the consultant contracts. A proposal for the new contract should be made available in the next few weeks for all SAS doctors to vote on. In order to vote you need to be registered with the BMA. It is not a requirement in this instance to be a BMA member, so if you have not registered, go to their web page www.bma.org.uk. At the top right of this page there is a ‘contact us’ tab so you can send your details electronically to the BMA (name, grade, work address and GMC number). Alternatively you can write to:

SAS Negotiating Team
BMA Head Office
BMA House
Tavistock Square
London
WC1H 1JP

If you have not visited the site before you can find the Staff and Associate Specialist page in the light blue menu bar to the left-hand side of the home page.

This is an important time for all of us to keep abreast of the changes to our contracts. It is a unique opportunity to improve our working conditions. Before the new contract comes into force it is vital that we familiarise ourselves with what is expected from us in terms of Continuing Professional Development and appraisal commitments. It is an opportunity for us to assess what we wish to do in order to improve our role and the quality of our service. If we have clear objectives on what we wish to achieve within our job description it is easier for us to clarify the number and type of sessions required to enable us to meet these targets.

Regional Meetings
Earlier this year I mentioned the notion of providing SAS doctors with alternative means to become involved in BGS meetings. One alternative was to become involved with the Regional BGS meetings. In order to ascertain the viability of this I proposed to pilot a scheme within the SW Thames Region where I work. The first of these meetings was held at Crawley Hospital in September. This was the main annual meeting for the Regional BGS and it was agreed with the hosts that a slot for a SAS presentation be allocated. SAS doctors would be formally invited to attend. I gave a talk relating to my other role in the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on the recent changes that have taken place in drug regulation. This included the new initiatives for the improving drug safety and improving the study of drugs in specialist populations such as paediatrics. I hope in the future the Agency will be able to run an initiative in improving the study of the effects of drugs in the elderly. Two other SAS doctors managed to attend the meeting and I have now obtained a full list of SAS doctors working within the SW Thames region. Hopefully at the next Regional meeting at St George’s Hospital the numbers of SAS doctors attending will increase. I will again endeavour to organise a slot for a SAS doctor to speak. If you work within the SW Thames area and have an academic topic which you would like to share with the meeting please contact me. If any SAS doctor would like to set up their own regional scheme I would also like to hear from them.

Contact details
As always, I invite comments through:
E-mail: suemorgan@doctors.org.uk
Text: 07763 363992
Phone: 07763 363992
Snail mail: The Editor, British Geriatrics Society 31 St John’s Square London EC1M 4DN

Sue Morgan
Chair
Staff and Associate Specialists Sub-Committee