Recognise extended clinical academic training in NHS consultant pay progression

Background

Review NHS consultant pay progression rules so that formally recognised clinical academic training undertaken during specialty training (such as a PhD, MD or Academic Clinical Lectureship) can count towards consultant salary seniority, as other recognised extensions to training already do.

Additional details

Doctors undertaking academic training spend additional years contributing to UK research while remaining on trainee salaries. Under current NHS rules this time does not count towards consultant salary seniority, creating a financial penalty. Estimated lifetime losses are £70-80k per year of research. At a time when the UK is seeking to strengthen its life sciences sector and reverse declining numbers of medical academics, pay arrangements should support -not discourage- academic careers.