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Press release: Joint Press Release with BMA: SAS contract negotiations kick off with positive first meeting

09 May 2005

Negotiators from the BMA and NHS Employers have met to start work on a new contract for doctors in the staff and associate specialist (SAS) group.

The first negotiating meeting, which took place on Friday 6 May, was felt by both sides to be positive and useful. They agreed broad objectives for the forthcoming negotiations, including enhanced status for SAS doctors, career progression, and improved terms and conditions of service.

Mr Awani Choudhary, lead negotiator for the BMA's Staff and Associate Specialist Committee, said: "This meeting marks an historic opportunity for staff and associate specialist doctors. There's an awful lot of work still to be done, but the path to an agreement is already a lot clearer. We are all committed to working as one team to solve the problem."

Heather Lawrence, chair of the NHS Employers negotiating team and chief executive of Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "This was our first formal meeting with the BMA and it was very positive. We are looking forward to working together with the BMA to agree a positive outcome for staff in this group and for their employers."

Notes for editors

1. NHS Employers, the employers' organisation for the NHS in England, was launched on 1 November 2004. Its work programme includes pay negotiations, health and safety, equality and diversity, recruitment and retention, the NHS Pension Scheme review, European and UK employment practice, safer recruitment and doctor disciplinary.
2. NHS Employers is part of the NHS Confederation but has its own director, policy board and assembly.

Contact details

The press office provides a comprehensive service to keep journalists informed about the work of NHS Employers.

If you have a media enquiry, please contact the press office team:

• Gemma Jeffcoate
  0207 074 3308 or gemma.jeffcoate@nhsemployers.org
• Emma Stafford
  0207 074 3307 or emma.stafford@nhsemployers.org

For out of hours media enquiries, please contact the duty press officer on 07880 500726.

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