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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Surgeons could earn pay bonuses | Surgeons could earn pay bonuses |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Surgeons could earn bonuses for successful operations under a plan being considered by the UK's largest hospital trust. | |
| The Imperial College Healthcare Trust in London will launch a pilot programme later in 2008 aimed at "rewarding excellence", a spokesman said. | The Imperial College Healthcare Trust in London will launch a pilot programme later in 2008 aimed at "rewarding excellence", a spokesman said. |
| The Patients Association said the public would be "horrified". | The Patients Association said the public would be "horrified". |
| But the Department of Health says it wants to strengthen a scheme which rewards surgeons for high performance. | |
| 'Widespread and robust' | 'Widespread and robust' |
| The trust spokesman said it was looking at awarding bonuses for a specific procedure for which patient outcomes could be clearly measured, with a view to introducing it within a few months. | The trust spokesman said it was looking at awarding bonuses for a specific procedure for which patient outcomes could be clearly measured, with a view to introducing it within a few months. |
| I think a good doctor would be insulted by the idea that they will only do their best on the operating table if there is extra money in it Katherine MurphyPatients Association | I think a good doctor would be insulted by the idea that they will only do their best on the operating table if there is extra money in it Katherine MurphyPatients Association |
| Send us your comments | Send us your comments |
| "We are looking at a pilot scheme for a particular operation which will measure the improved functionality of the patient and we are looking at linking certain performance-related bonuses to that," he said. | |
| "At the moment we are in discussions with the surgical team." | "At the moment we are in discussions with the surgical team." |
| But Katherine Murphy from the Patients Association warned there was a risk that the most complicated cases would be forgotten because they would not guarantee the best outcomes. | But Katherine Murphy from the Patients Association warned there was a risk that the most complicated cases would be forgotten because they would not guarantee the best outcomes. |
| "Doctors already have a duty to provide high-quality care," she said. | "Doctors already have a duty to provide high-quality care," she said. |
| "I think a good doctor would be insulted by the idea that they will only do their best on the operating table if there is extra money in it." | "I think a good doctor would be insulted by the idea that they will only do their best on the operating table if there is extra money in it." |
| 'Offensive' | |
| One surgeon told the BBC that he found the idea "incredible" and "offensive": | |
| Professor Ellis Downes, a consultant gynaecologist at Chase Farm hospital in north London, said: "As a highly trained professional, I do my very best for my patients and I do not need financial inducements to persuade me to operate even better. | |
| "All our patients deserve the highest level of surgical care we can give them. It's a bit like saying to an airline pilot, if you don't crash your aeroplane we will give you more money." | |
| The Liberal Democrats said that while they welcome a scheme that rewards talented surgeons, it should not be used as an incentive to neglect the treatment of patients with complicated conditions who are less likely to make a full recovery. | |
| A review into the future of the NHS led by health minister Lord Darzi promised a system of care which focused on quality. | A review into the future of the NHS led by health minister Lord Darzi promised a system of care which focused on quality. |
| The Department of Health spokesman said while the trust's pilot was not government controlled, under the Clinical Excellence Awards Scheme bonuses could be awarded for procedures such as hip operations, after which patient mobility could be measured. | |
| "Quality indicators such as complication rates and patient feedback are already used in specialties where they are available," he added. | "Quality indicators such as complication rates and patient feedback are already used in specialties where they are available," he added. |
| "As such measures become more widespread and robust, they will become increasingly influential in determining who gets awards." | "As such measures become more widespread and robust, they will become increasingly influential in determining who gets awards." |