The new consultant contract – its impact on vascular surgeons

In October 2003 the British Medical Association (BMA) announced that 60.7% of consultants in England had voted in favour of the new consultant contract; since that time the option of taking up the new contract has been available. The basis of the new contract is a job plan with ten programmed activities (PAs) of four hours each (three hours in premium time). These may be divided into the following categories: direct clinical care, supporting professional activities (SPAs), additional NHS responsibilities and external duties.