National
Framework Agreement Contract: The “National Contract”
The Anaesthetists Agency has been awarded Approved Supplier status
on the new National Framework Agreement for the supply of “Medical
Locums … to National Health Service (NHS) Bodies”.
Tendering for this contract has been a lengthy process, with much
emphasis on decreasing costs. It is to run for three (or four)
years.
Purpose of the Agreement
The main purpose of the National Contract is to save the NHS money.
This is to be done by having a group of capable agencies contracted
to supply locums at lower prices, and then, as far as possible,
by making locum work available to only those agencies.
Pay Rates
Work booked before 1 July 2005 will continue to be paid at our
old rates, until 31 August 2005 at the latest. From 1 September
2005 only new rates shall apply.
The effective date of the Contract is 1 July 2005, the date we
were informed of our new status! Consequently, with apologies,
our new pay rates are effective immediately for all new bookings.
Of the hundred or so agencies tendering, our proposed pay rates
at each grade were in the top quartile of pay rates tendered at
every stage. Despite our resistance to decreasing pay rates, some
of our new rates are in fact lower than our 2004/2005 rates, by
about 6.5%, but varying between 1% and 14%.
Sessional pay is not accepted under the Contract; all pay is to
be calculated hourly. It will be important to note correctly your
hours of starting and finishing work.
Volume of Work
We look forward to being able to offer you a much greater variety
of work at each grade, throughout the United Kingdom.
Timesheet Changes
The timesheet procedure required is now determined by the Contract.
Timesheets must be filled in triplicate. They must state Shift
type, Shift start and finish times, and times of rest and meal
breaks (to comply with European law). Time spent on meal breaks
is not to be paid.
Timesheets must by countersigned by an authorised person, and
left with the Anaesthetic Secretary for internal distribution
and return to the Agency.
If timesheets do not comply, “… an invoice is not
to be sent”! You will understand our interest in correct
procedure being followed.
Further
reading
Click
this link for more information
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