title: Introducing an annualised contract for a consultant team in a district general hospital.
abstract: The majority of physicians work a weekly timetable consisting of programmed activities (PAs) defined by the consultant contract. This paper describes the implementation of an annualised contract within a gastroenterology department, which is located across two district general hospital sites within the same trust. The perceived benefits of the system include the introduction of a new out-of-hours emergency endoscopy service, more efficient backfilling of vacant endoscopy lists and greater transparency of work patterns and workload between colleagues and within the trust.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Gloucester, UK. lachlanayres@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Lachlan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ayres
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brooklyn
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valori
mesh_terms: D039602:After-Hours Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003253:Consultants; D032982:Contracts; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005762:Gastroenterology / Q000458:organization & administration; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D016526:Workload
keywords: Programmed activities; annualised contract; consultant