Collaborative fees and allowances

This page contains information on fees and allowances payable to doctors for sessional work in the community health services, medical services to local authorities (under collaborative arrangements), and medical examinations of prospective National Health Service employees.

Background

Section 26 - 28 of the 1977 NHS Act sets out the statutory basis for the collaborative arrangements. It is important that the provision of these essential services is maintained, especially in relation to children, disabled people and people with mental health issues.

Recommendation of DDRB

Historically, the Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB) has recommended the uplift to the fees and allowances for sessional work in the community health service and work under the collaborative arrangements. However, the 2006 DDRB report recommended that for 2006/07, doctors should set their own fees for carrying out this work. This was reiterated in the 2007 DDRB report for 2007/08. NHS Employers have, therefore, not issued a 'collaborative fees' pay circular for 2006/07 or 2007/08.

The recommendations made by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration can be found in:

• Thirty fifth report (2006) on page 43, paragraph 3.67.
• Thirty sixth report (2007) on page 34, paragraph 3.46.

The NHS Employers Pay Review questionnaire provides an opportunity for PCTs to comment on the practical effects of this recommendation.

Calculating fees and allowances

With the exception of looked after and adopted children (see below) NHS Employers suggests that when agreeing fees for work carried out under the collaborative arrangements, employers should have regard to the amounts provided in Pay Circular (M&D) 2/2005 and apply any appropriate uplift to the fees after discussions with doctors locally.

Looked after and adopted children

The rates for examinations and reports on children looked after or about to be looked after by a local authority, or about to be placed in foster care or placed for adoption by a local authority, and examinations and reports in a form recommended by the British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) were not published in PC (MD) 2/2005. This was because the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) had been in discussion with relevant parties over the rates payable under this schedule. These discussions have concluded.

It has been agreed that the examinations and reports as set out in Advance Letter (MD) 2/2004 should continue to be used. DfES has issued a Summary of Medical Assessments which provides information about the assessments on looked after children/prospective carers and suggests which BAAF form be used to record the outcomes.

NHS Employers suggests that when agreeing fees for this work, employers refer back to AL (MD) 2/2004 and apply any appropriate uplift to the fees after discussions with doctors locally. The rates for carrying out health assessments recorded in forms IHA-C and IHA-YP and forms RHA-C and RHA-YP (which replaced 'IHA', 'C, D and YP' and 'AME') were not published in AL(MD)2/2004. BMA recommended rates to be paid from September 2004 are set out on the BAAF website.

For further information about looked after and adopted children please see the Every Child Matters webpage on the DfES website:

Terms and Conditions of Service

The terms and conditions of service for doctors undertaking work under these collaborative arrangements can found in the supplement to PC(M&D)2/2005.

Establishing the responsible commissioner

Revised guidance was issued in April 2006 for Primary Care Trust (PCT) commissioners on the application of the legal framework on PCTs secondary care commissioning responsibilities. Establishing the Responsible Commissioner can be found on the Department of Health website.