ENGLAND – NHS England has attacked senior doctors for charging “rip off” rates for overtime, after a BBC investigation found pressure to cut waiting lists is allowing some consultants to make more than £200,000 a year for additional work. That is nearly double the average basic pay for a full-time consultant in England. Many of the consultants earning the most are thought to be part-time, allowing them to work significant amounts of overtime for rates exceeding £200 an hour – more than four times normal pay. NHS England said the sums were “totally unacceptable”.

In a statement to the BBC, the body responsible for running the health service in England said: “It is totally unacceptable for hospitals to be forced to pay rip-off rates – over which they have limited control.” And it added while paying consultants for additional work was “essential” to cut waits and provide safe care, the NHS was “committed to spending taxpayer money wisely”. Meanwhile, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he agreed the rates were not acceptable, adding: “Every penny that goes into the NHS needs to be well spent.” But the British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors’ union, pointed out the NHS would not have to rely so much on overtime were it not for staffing shortages.

Hospitals said alongside tackling the NHS waiting list, overtime was needed to cover sickness absence and vacancies as well as for covering the junior doctor strikes. The findings come as the government invests more money in the NHS, to increase the number of appointments and operations it can offer – a key election promise made by Labour. As part of the Budget, the chancellor said the NHS would receive an extra £25bn this year and next – with reducing waits a priority. A key part of Labour’s plan is for staff to work evenings and weekends, to cut the backlog. But the BBC News investigation raises concerns about whether this approach can deliver value for money. One senior NHS source said: “Consultants hold all the cards – they know we cannot make progress on the backlog without them.” (BBC)…[+]